Handover execution notification of a wireless device

ABSTRACT

A wireless device transmits, to a first base station, a measurement result of a cell of a second base station. A command, of a conditional handover towards the cell of the second base station is received, comprises: a cell identifier of the cell; and handover execution condition(s). The handover execution condition(s) comprise at least one of: a reference signal received power; a reference signal received quality; a first time value indicating a time offset for a decision of a handover execution; or a second time value indicating a time duration when the command of the conditional handover is valid. A determination that criteria of the handover execution condition(s) is met by the cell. In response to the determination, a handover execution notification indicating that the wireless device is initiating a random access procedure by transmitting a random access preamble is transmitted via the cell of the second base station.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation to U.S. patent Ser. No. 15/933,061,filed Mar. 22, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/474,793, filed Mar. 22, 2017, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of several of the various embodiments of the present disclosureare described herein with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example RAN architecture as per an aspect ofan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a diagram of an example user plane protocol stack as per anaspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a diagram of an example control plane protocol stack as peran aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example wireless device and two base stationsas per an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D are example diagrams for uplinkand downlink signal transmission as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a diagram of an example uplink channel mapping and exampleuplink physical signals as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5B is a diagram of an example downlink channel mapping and exampledownlink physical signals as per an aspect of an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting an example frame structure as per anaspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are diagrams depicting example sets of OFDMsubcarriers as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting example OFDM radio resources as per anaspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9B are diagrams of an example multi connectivity asper an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an example random access procedure as per anaspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a structure of example MAC entities as per an aspect of anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of an example RAN architecture as per an aspect ofan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of example RRC states as per an aspect of anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is an example diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 15 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments of the present disclosure enable operation ofcommunication network systems. Embodiments of the technology disclosedherein may be employed in the technical field of multicarriercommunication systems. More particularly, the embodiments of thetechnology disclosed herein may relate to radio access networks inmulticarrier communication systems.

The following Acronyms are used throughout the present disclosure:

3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

5GC 5G Core Network

ACK Acknowledgement

AMF Access and Mobility Management Function

ARQ Automatic Repeat Request

AS Access Stratum

ASIC Application-Specific Integrated Circuit

BA Bandwidth Adaptation

BCCH Broadcast Control Channel

BCH Broadcast Channel

BPSK Binary Phase Shift Keying

BWP Bandwidth Part

CA Carrier Aggregation

CC Component Carrier

CCCH Common Control CHannel

CDMA Code Division Multiple Access

CN Core Network

CP Cyclic Prefix

CP-OFDM Cyclic Prefix-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex

C-RNTI Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier

CS Configured Scheduling

CSI Channel State Information

CSI-RS Channel State Information-Reference Signal

CQI Channel Quality Indicator

CSS Common Search Space

CU Central Unit

DC Dual Connectivity

DCCH Dedicated Control CHannel

DCI Downlink Control Information

DL Downlink

DL-SCH Downlink Shared CHannel

DM-RS DeModulation Reference Signal

DRB Data Radio Bearer

DRX Discontinuous Reception

DTCH Dedicated Traffic CHannel

DU Distributed Unit

EPC Evolved Packet Core

E-UTRA Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access

E-UTRAN Evolved-Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network

FDD Frequency Division Duplex

FPGA Field Programmable Gate Arrays

F1-C F1-Control plane

F1-U F1-User plane

gNB next generation Node B

HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest

HDL Hardware Description Languages

IE Information Element

IP Internet Protocol

LCID Logical Channel IDentifier

LTE Long Term Evolution

MAC Media Access Control

MCG Master Cell Group

MCS Modulation and Coding Scheme

MeNB Master evolved Node B

MIB Master Information Block

MME Mobility Management Entity

MN Master Node

NACK Negative Acknowledgement

NAS Non-Access Stratum

NG CP Next Generation Control Plane

NGC Next Generation Core

NG-C NG-Control plane

ng-eNB next generation evolved Node B

NG-U NG-User plane

NR New Radio

NR MAC New Radio MAC

NR PDCP New Radio PDCP

NR PHY New Radio PHYsical

NR RLC New Radio RLC

NR RRC New Radio RRC

NSSAI Network Slice Selection Assistance Information

O&M Operation and Maintenance

OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing

PBCH Physical Broadcast CHannel

PCC Primary Component Carrier

PCCH Paging Control CHannel

PCell Primary Cell

PCH Paging CHannel

PDCCH Physical Downlink Control CHannel

PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol

PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared CHannel

PDU Protocol Data Unit

PHICH Physical HARQ Indicator CHannel

PHY PHYsical

PLMN Public Land Mobile Network

PMI Precoding Matrix Indicator

PRACH Physical Random Access CHannel

PRB Physical Resource Block

PSCell Primary Secondary Cell

PSS Primary Synchronization Signal

pTAG primary Timing Advance Group

PT-RS Phase Tracking Reference Signal

PUCCH Physical Uplink Control CHannel

PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared CHannel

QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

QFI Quality of Service Indicator

QoS Quality of Service

QPSK Quadrature Phase Shift Keying

RA Random Access

RACH Random Access CHannel

RAN Radio Access Network

RAT Radio Access Technology

RA-RNTI Random Access-Radio Network Temporary Identifier

RB Resource Blocks

RBG Resource Block Groups

RI Rank Indicator

RLC Radio Link Control

RRC Radio Resource Control

RS Reference Signal

RSRP Reference Signal Received Power

SCC Secondary Component Carrier

SCell Secondary Cell

SCG Secondary Cell Group

SC-FDMA Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access

SDAP Service Data Adaptation Protocol

SDU Service Data Unit

SeNB Secondary evolved Node B

SFN System Frame Number

S-GW Serving GateWay

SI System Information

SIB System Information Block

SMF Session Management Function

SN Secondary Node

SpCell Special Cell

SRB Signaling Radio Bearer

SRS Sounding Reference Signal

SS Synchronization Signal

SSS Secondary Synchronization Signal

sTAG secondary Timing Advance Group

TA Timing Advance

TAG Timing Advance Group

TAI Tracking Area Identifier

TAT Time Alignment Timer

TB Transport Block

TC-RNTI Temporary Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier

TDD Time Division Duplex

TDMA Time Division Multiple Access

TTI Transmission Time Interval

UCI Uplink Control Information

UE User Equipment

UL Uplink

UL-SCH Uplink Shared CHannel

UPF User Plane Function

UPGW User Plane Gateway

VHDL VHSIC Hardware Description Language

Xn-C Xn-Control plane

Xn-U Xn-User plane

Example embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented using variousphysical layer modulation and transmission mechanisms. Exampletransmission mechanisms may include, but are not limited to: CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division MultipleAccess (OFDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Wavelettechnologies, and/or the like. Hybrid transmission mechanisms such asTDMA/CDMA, and OFDM/CDMA may also be employed. Various modulationschemes may be applied for signal transmission in the physical layer.Examples of modulation schemes include, but are not limited to: phase,amplitude, code, a combination of these, and/or the like. An exampleradio transmission method may implement Quadrature Amplitude Modulation(QAM) using Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), Quadrature Phase ShiftKeying (QPSK), 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM, and/or the like. Physical radiotransmission may be enhanced by dynamically or semi-dynamically changingthe modulation and coding scheme depending on transmission requirementsand radio conditions.

FIG. 1 is an example Radio Access Network (RAN) architecture as per anaspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated inthis example, a RAN node may be a next generation Node B (gNB) (e.g.120A, 120B) providing New Radio (NR) user plane and control planeprotocol terminations towards a first wireless device (e.g. 110A). In anexample, a RAN node may be a next generation evolved Node B (ng-eNB)(e.g. 124A, 124B), providing Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access(E-UTRA) user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards asecond wireless device (e.g. 110B). The first wireless device maycommunicate with a gNB over a Uu interface. The second wireless devicemay communicate with a ng-eNB over a Uu interface. In this disclosure,wireless device 110A and 110B are structurally similar to wirelessdevice 110. Base stations 120A and/or 120B may be structurally similarlyto base station 120. Base station 120 may comprise at least one of a gNB(e.g. 122A and/or 122B), ng-eNB (e.g. 124A and/or 124B), and or thelike.

A gNB or an ng-eNB may host functions such as: radio resource managementand scheduling, IP header compression, encryption and integrityprotection of data, selection of Access and Mobility Management Function(AMF) at User Equipment (UE) attachment, routing of user plane andcontrol plane data, connection setup and release, scheduling andtransmission of paging messages (originated from the AMF), schedulingand transmission of system broadcast information (originated from theAMF or Operation and Maintenance (O&M)), measurement and measurementreporting configuration, transport level packet marking in the uplink,session management, support of network slicing, Quality of Service (QoS)flow management and mapping to data radio bearers, support of UEs inRRCINACTIVE state, distribution function for Non-Access Stratum (NAS)messages, RAN sharing, and dual connectivity or tight interworkingbetween NR and E-UTRA.

In an example, one or more gNBs and/or one or more ng-eNBs may beinterconnected with each other by means of Xn interface. A gNB or anng-eNB may be connected by means of NG interfaces to 5G Core Network(5GC). In an example, 5GC may comprise one or more AMF/User PlanFunction (UPF) functions (e.g. 130A or 130B). A gNB or an ng-eNB may beconnected to a UPF by means of an NG-User plane (NG-U) interface. TheNG-U interface may provide delivery (e.g. non-guaranteed delivery) ofuser plane Protocol Data Units (PDUs) between a RAN node and the UPF. AgNB or an ng-eNB may be connected to an AMF by means of an NG-Controlplane (NG-C) interface. The NG-C interface may provide, for example, NGinterface management, UE context management, UE mobility management,transport of NAS messages, paging, PDU session management, configurationtransfer and/or warning message transmission, combinations thereof,and/or the like.

In an example, a UPF may host functions such as anchor point forintra-/inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) mobility (when applicable),external PDU session point of interconnect to data network, packetrouting and forwarding, packet inspection and user plane part of policyrule enforcement, traffic usage reporting, uplink classifier to supportrouting traffic flows to a data network, branching point to supportmulti-homed PDU session, QoS handling for user plane, e.g. packetfiltering, gating, Uplink (UL)/Downlink (DL) rate enforcement, uplinktraffic verification (e.g. Service Data Flow (SDF) to QoS flow mapping),downlink packet buffering and/or downlink data notification triggering.

In an example, an AMF may host functions such as NAS signalingtermination, NAS signaling security, Access Stratum (AS) securitycontrol, inter Core Network (CN) node signaling for mobility between3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access networks, idle modeUE reachability (e.g., control and execution of paging retransmission),registration area management, support of intra-system and inter-systemmobility, access authentication, access authorization including check ofroaming rights, mobility management control (subscription and policies),support of network slicing and/or Session Management Function (SMF)selection.

FIG. 2A is an example user plane protocol stack, where Service DataAdaptation Protocol (SDAP) (e.g. 211 and 221), Packet Data ConvergenceProtocol (PDCP) (e.g. 212 and 222), Radio Link Control (RLC) (e.g. 213and 223) and Media Access Control (MAC) (e.g. 214 and 224) sublayers andPhysical (PHY) (e.g. 215 and 225) layer may be terminated in wirelessdevice (e.g. 110) and gNB (e.g. 120) on the network side. In an example,a PHY layer provides transport services to higher layers (e.g. MAC, RRC,etc.). In an example, services and functions of a MAC sublayer maycomprise mapping between logical channels and transport channels,multiplexing/demultiplexing of MAC Service Data Units (SDUs) belongingto one or different logical channels into/from Transport Blocks (TBs)delivered to/from the PHY layer, scheduling information reporting, errorcorrection through Hybrid Automatic Repeat request (HARQ) (e.g. one HARQentity per carrier in case of Carrier Aggregation (CA)), priorityhandling between UEs by means of dynamic scheduling, priority handlingbetween logical channels of one UE by means of logical channelprioritization, and/or padding. A MAC entity may support one or multiplenumerologies and/or transmission timings. In an example, mappingrestrictions in a logical channel prioritization may control whichnumerology and/or transmission timing a logical channel may use. In anexample, an RLC sublayer may supports transparent mode (TM),unacknowledged mode (UM) and acknowledged mode (AM) transmission modes.The RLC configuration may be per logical channel with no dependency onnumerologies and/or Transmission Time Interval (TTI) durations. In anexample, Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) may operate on any of thenumerologies and/or TTI durations the logical channel is configuredwith. In an example, services and functions of the PDCP layer for theuser plane may comprise sequence numbering, header compression anddecompression, transfer of user data, reordering and duplicatedetection, PDCP PDU routing (e.g. in case of split bearers),retransmission of PDCP SDUs, ciphering, deciphering and integrityprotection, PDCP SDU discard, PDCP re-establishment and data recoveryfor RLC AM, and/or duplication of PDCP PDUs. In an example, services andfunctions of SDAP may comprise mapping between a QoS flow and a dataradio bearer. In an example, services and functions of SDAP may comprisemapping Quality of Service Indicator (QFI) in DL and UL packets. In anexample, a protocol entity of SDAP may be configured for an individualPDU session.

FIG. 2B is an example control plane protocol stack where PDCP (e.g. 233and 242), RLC (e.g. 234 and 243) and MAC (e.g. 235 and 244) sublayersand PHY (e.g. 236 and 245) layer may be terminated in wireless device(e.g. 110) and gNB (e.g. 120) on a network side and perform service andfunctions described above. In an example, RRC (e.g. 232 and 241) may beterminated in a wireless device and a gNB on a network side. In anexample, services and functions of RRC may comprise broadcast of systeminformation related to AS and NAS, paging initiated by 5GC or RAN,establishment, maintenance and release of an RRC connection between theUE and RAN, security functions including key management, establishment,configuration, maintenance and release of Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs)and Data Radio Bearers (DRBs), mobility functions, QoS managementfunctions, UE measurement reporting and control of the reporting,detection of and recovery from radio link failure, and/or NAS messagetransfer to/from NAS from/to a UE. In an example, NAS control protocol(e.g. 231 and 251) may be terminated in the wireless device and AMF(e.g. 130) on a network side and may perform functions such asauthentication, mobility management between a UE and a AMF for 3GPPaccess and non-3GPP access, and session management between a UE and aSMF for 3GPP access and non-3GPP access.

In an example, a base station may configure a plurality of logicalchannels for a wireless device. A logical channel in the plurality oflogical channels may correspond to a radio bearer and the radio bearermay be associated with a QoS requirement. In an example, a base stationmay configure a logical channel to be mapped to one or moreTTIs/numerologies in a plurality of TTIs/numerologies. The wirelessdevice may receive a Downlink Control Information (DCI) via PhysicalDownlink Control CHannel (PDCCH) indicating an uplink grant. In anexample, the uplink grant may be for a first TTI/numerology and mayindicate uplink resources for transmission of a transport block. Thebase station may configure each logical channel in the plurality oflogical channels with one or more parameters to be used by a logicalchannel prioritization procedure at the MAC layer of the wirelessdevice. The one or more parameters may comprise priority, prioritizedbit rate, etc. A logical channel in the plurality of logical channelsmay correspond to one or more buffers comprising data associated withthe logical channel. The logical channel prioritization procedure mayallocate the uplink resources to one or more first logical channels inthe plurality of logical channels and/or one or more MAC ControlElements (CEs). The one or more first logical channels may be mapped tothe first TTI/numerology. The MAC layer at the wireless device maymultiplex one or more MAC CEs and/or one or more MAC SDUs (e.g., logicalchannel) in a MAC PDU (e.g., transport block). In an example, the MACPDU may comprise a MAC header comprising a plurality of MAC sub-headers.A MAC sub-header in the plurality of MAC sub-headers may correspond to aMAC CE or a MAC SUD (logical channel) in the one or more MAC CEs and/orone or more MAC SDUs. In an example, a MAC CE or a logical channel maybe configured with a Logical Channel IDentifier (LCID). In an example,LCID for a logical channel or a MAC CE may be fixed/pre-configured. Inan example, LCID for a logical channel or MAC CE may be configured forthe wireless device by the base station. The MAC sub-headercorresponding to a MAC CE or a MAC SDU may comprise LCID associated withthe MAC CE or the MAC SDU.

In an example, a base station may activate and/or deactivate and/orimpact one or more processes (e.g., set values of one or more parametersof the one or more processes or start and/or stop one or more timers ofthe one or more processes) at the wireless device by employing one ormore MAC commands. The one or more MAC commands may comprise one or moreMAC control elements. In an example, the one or more processes maycomprise activation and/or deactivation of PDCP packet duplication forone or more radio bearers. The base station may transmit a MAC CEcomprising one or more fields, the values of the fields indicatingactivation and/or deactivation of PDCP duplication for the one or moreradio bearers. In an example, the one or more processes may compriseChannel State Information (CSI) transmission of on one or more cells.The base station may transmit one or more MAC CEs indicating activationand/or deactivation of the CSI transmission on the one or more cells. Inan example, the one or more processes may comprise activation ordeactivation of one or more secondary cells. In an example, the basestation may transmit a MA CE indicating activation or deactivation ofone or more secondary cells. In an example, the base station maytransmit one or more MAC CEs indicating starting and/or stopping one ormore Discontinuous Reception (DRX) timers at the wireless device. In anexample, the base station may transmit one or more MAC CEs indicatingone or more timing advance values for one or more Timing Advance Groups(TAGs).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of base stations (base station 1, 120A, andbase station 2, 120B) and a wireless device 110. A wireless device maybe called an UE. A base station may be called a NB, eNB, gNB, and/orng-eNB. In an example, a wireless device and/or a base station may actas a relay node. The base station 1, 120A, may comprise at least onecommunication interface 320A (e.g. a wireless modem, an antenna, a wiredmodem, and/or the like), at least one processor 321A, and at least oneset of program code instructions 323A stored in non-transitory memory322A and executable by the at least one processor 321A. The base station2, 120B, may comprise at least one communication interface 320B, atleast one processor 321B, and at least one set of program codeinstructions 323B stored in non-transitory memory 322B and executable bythe at least one processor 321B.

A base station may comprise many sectors for example: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6sectors. A base station may comprise many cells, for example, rangingfrom 1 to 50 cells or more. A cell may be categorized, for example, as aprimary cell or secondary cell. At Radio Resource Control (RRC)connection establishment/re-establishment/handover, one serving cell mayprovide the NAS (non-access stratum) mobility information (e.g. TrackingArea Identifier (TAI)). At RRC connection re-establishment/handover, oneserving cell may provide the security input. This cell may be referredto as the Primary Cell (PCell). In the downlink, a carrier correspondingto the PCell may be a DL Primary Component Carrier (PCC), while in theuplink, a carrier may be an UL PCC. Depending on wireless devicecapabilities, Secondary Cells (SCells) may be configured to formtogether with a PCell a set of serving cells. In a downlink, a carriercorresponding to an SCell may be a downlink secondary component carrier(DL SCC), while in an uplink, a carrier may be an uplink secondarycomponent carrier (UL SCC). An SCell may or may not have an uplinkcarrier.

A cell, comprising a downlink carrier and optionally an uplink carrier,may be assigned a physical cell ID and a cell index. A carrier (downlinkor uplink) may belong to one cell. The cell ID or cell index may alsoidentify the downlink carrier or uplink carrier of the cell (dependingon the context it is used). In the disclosure, a cell ID may be equallyreferred to a carrier ID, and a cell index may be referred to a carrierindex. In an implementation, a physical cell ID or a cell index may beassigned to a cell. A cell ID may be determined using a synchronizationsignal transmitted on a downlink carrier. A cell index may be determinedusing RRC messages. For example, when the disclosure refers to a firstphysical cell ID for a first downlink carrier, the disclosure may meanthe first physical cell ID is for a cell comprising the first downlinkcarrier. The same concept may apply to, for example, carrier activation.When the disclosure indicates that a first carrier is activated, thespecification may equally mean that a cell comprising the first carrieris activated.

A base station may transmit to a wireless device one or more messages(e.g. RRC messages) comprising a plurality of configuration parametersfor one or more cells. One or more cells may comprise at least oneprimary cell and at least one secondary cell. In an example, an RRCmessage may be broadcasted or unicasted to the wireless device. In anexample, configuration parameters may comprise common parameters anddedicated parameters.

Services and/or functions of an RRC sublayer may comprise at least oneof: broadcast of system information related to AS and NAS; paginginitiated by 5GC and/or NG-RAN; establishment, maintenance, and/orrelease of an RRC connection between a wireless device and NG-RAN, whichmay comprise at least one of addition, modification and release ofcarrier aggregation; or addition, modification, and/or release of dualconnectivity in NR or between E-UTRA and NR. Services and/or functionsof an RRC sublayer may further comprise at least one of securityfunctions comprising key management; establishment, configuration,maintenance, and/or release of Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs) and/orData Radio Bearers (DRBs); mobility functions which may comprise atleast one of a handover (e.g. intra NR mobility or inter-RAT mobility)and a context transfer; or a wireless device cell selection andreselection and control of cell selection and reselection. Servicesand/or functions of an RRC sublayer may further comprise at least one ofQoS management functions; a wireless device measurementconfiguration/reporting; detection of and/or recovery from radio linkfailure; or NAS message transfer to/from a core network entity (e.g.AMF, Mobility Management Entity (MME)) from/to the wireless device.

An RRC sublayer may support an RRC_Idle state, an RRC_Inactive stateand/or an RRC_Connected state for a wireless device. In an RRC_Idlestate, a wireless device may perform at least one of: Public Land MobileNetwork (PLMN) selection; receiving broadcasted system information; cellselection/re-selection; monitoring/receiving a paging for mobileterminated data initiated by 5GC; paging for mobile terminated data areamanaged by 5GC; or DRX for CN paging configured via NAS. In anRRC_Inactive state, a wireless device may perform at least one of:receiving broadcasted system information; cell selection/re-selection;monitoring/receiving a RAN/CN paging initiated by NG-RAN/5GC; RAN-basednotification area (RNA) managed by NG-RAN; or DRX for RAN/CN pagingconfigured by NG-RAN/NAS. In an RRC_Idle state of a wireless device, abase station (e.g. NG-RAN) may keep a 5GC-NG-RAN connection (bothC/U-planes) for the wireless device; and/or store a UE AS context forthe wireless device. In an RRC_Connected state of a wireless device, abase station (e.g. NG-RAN) may perform at least one of: establishment of5GC-NG-RAN connection (both C/U-planes) for the wireless device; storinga UE AS context for the wireless device; transmit/receive of unicastdata to/from the wireless device; or network-controlled mobility basedon measurement results received from the wireless device. In anRRC_Connected state of a wireless device, an NG-RAN may know a cell thatthe wireless device belongs to.

System information (SI) may be divided into minimum SI and other SI. Theminimum SI may be periodically broadcast. The minimum SI may comprisebasic information required for initial access and information foracquiring any other SI broadcast periodically or provisioned on-demand,i.e. scheduling information. The other SI may either be broadcast, or beprovisioned in a dedicated manner, either triggered by a network or uponrequest from a wireless device. A minimum SI may be transmitted via twodifferent downlink channels using different messages (e.g.MasterInformationBlock and SystemInformationBlockType1). Another SI maybe transmitted via SystemInformationBlockType2. For a wireless device inan RRC_Connected state, dedicated RRC signaling may be employed for therequest and delivery of the other SI. For the wireless device in theRRC_Idle state and/or the RRC_Inactive state, the request may trigger arandom-access procedure.

A wireless device may report its radio access capability informationwhich may be static. A base station may request what capabilities for awireless device to report based on band information. When allowed by anetwork, a temporary capability restriction request may be sent by thewireless device to signal the limited availability of some capabilities(e.g. due to hardware sharing, interference or overheating) to the basestation. The base station may confirm or reject the request. Thetemporary capability restriction may be transparent to 5GC (e.g., staticcapabilities may be stored in 5GC).

When CA is configured, a wireless device may have an RRC connection witha network. At RRC connection establishment/re-establishment/handoverprocedure, one serving cell may provide NAS mobility information, and atRRC connection re-establishment/handover, one serving cell may provide asecurity input. This cell may be referred to as the PCell. Depending onthe capabilities of the wireless device, SCells may be configured toform together with the PCell a set of serving cells. The configured setof serving cells for the wireless device may comprise one PCell and oneor more SCells.

The reconfiguration, addition and removal of SCells may be performed byRRC. At intra-NR handover, RRC may also add, remove, or reconfigureSCells for usage with the target PCell. When adding a new SCell,dedicated RRC signaling may be employed to send all required systeminformation of the SCell i.e. while in connected mode, wireless devicesmay not need to acquire broadcasted system information directly from theSCells.

The purpose of an RRC connection reconfiguration procedure may be tomodify an RRC connection, (e.g. to establish, modify and/or release RBs,to perform handover, to setup, modify, and/or release measurements, toadd, modify, and/or release SCells and cell groups). As part of the RRCconnection reconfiguration procedure, NAS dedicated information may betransferred from the network to the wireless device. TheRRCConnectionReconfiguration message may be a command to modify an RRCconnection. It may convey information for measurement configuration,mobility control, radio resource configuration (e.g. RBs, MAC mainconfiguration and physical channel configuration) comprising anyassociated dedicated NAS information and security configuration. If thereceived RRC Connection Reconfiguration message includes thesCellToReleaseList, the wireless device may perform an SCell release. Ifthe received RRC Connection Reconfiguration message includes thesCellToAddModList, the wireless device may perform SCell additions ormodification.

An RRC connection establishment (or reestablishment, resume) proceduremay be to establish (or reestablish, resume) an RRC connection. an RRCconnection establishment procedure may comprise SRB1 establishment. TheRRC connection establishment procedure may be used to transfer theinitial NAS dedicated information/message from a wireless device toE-UTRAN. The RRCConnectionReestablishment message may be used tore-establish SRB1.

A measurement report procedure may be to transfer measurement resultsfrom a wireless device to NG-RAN. The wireless device may initiate ameasurement report procedure after successful security activation. Ameasurement report message may be employed to transmit measurementresults.

The wireless device 110 may comprise at least one communicationinterface 310 (e.g. a wireless modem, an antenna, and/or the like), atleast one processor 314, and at least one set of program codeinstructions 316 stored in non-transitory memory 315 and executable bythe at least one processor 314. The wireless device 110 may furthercomprise at least one of at least one speaker/microphone 311, at leastone keypad 312, at least one display/touchpad 313, at least one powersource 317, at least one global positioning system (GPS) chipset 318,and other peripherals 319.

The processor 314 of the wireless device 110, the processor 321A of thebase station 1 120A, and/or the processor 321B of the base station 2120B may comprise at least one of a general-purpose processor, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a controller, a microcontroller, an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array(FPGA) and/or other programmable logic device, discrete gate and/ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, and the like. Theprocessor 314 of the wireless device 110, the processor 321A in basestation 1 120A, and/or the processor 321B in base station 2 120B mayperform at least one of signal coding/processing, data processing, powercontrol, input/output processing, and/or any other functionality thatmay enable the wireless device 110, the base station 1 120A and/or thebase station 2 120B to operate in a wireless environment.

The processor 314 of the wireless device 110 may be connected to thespeaker/microphone 311, the keypad 312, and/or the display/touchpad 313.The processor 314 may receive user input data from and/or provide useroutput data to the speaker/microphone 311, the keypad 312, and/or thedisplay/touchpad 313. The processor 314 in the wireless device 110 mayreceive power from the power source 317 and/or may be configured todistribute the power to the other components in the wireless device 110.The power source 317 may comprise at least one of one or more dry cellbatteries, solar cells, fuel cells, and the like. The processor 314 maybe connected to the GPS chipset 318. The GPS chipset 318 may beconfigured to provide geographic location information of the wirelessdevice 110.

The processor 314 of the wireless device 110 may further be connected toother peripherals 319, which may comprise one or more software and/orhardware modules that provide additional features and/orfunctionalities. For example, the peripherals 319 may comprise at leastone of an accelerometer, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera, auniversal serial bus (USB) port, a hands-free headset, a frequencymodulated (FM) radio unit, a media player, an Internet browser, and thelike.

The communication interface 320A of the base station 1, 120A, and/or thecommunication interface 320B of the base station 2, 120B, may beconfigured to communicate with the communication interface 310 of thewireless device 110 via a wireless link 330A and/or a wireless link 330Brespectively. In an example, the communication interface 320A of thebase station 1, 120A, may communicate with the communication interface320B of the base station 2 and other RAN and core network nodes.

The wireless link 330A and/or the wireless link 330B may comprise atleast one of a bi-directional link and/or a directional link. Thecommunication interface 310 of the wireless device 110 may be configuredto communicate with the communication interface 320A of the base station1 120A and/or with the communication interface 320B of the base station2 120B. The base station 1 120A and the wireless device 110 and/or thebase station 2 120B and the wireless device 110 may be configured tosend and receive transport blocks via the wireless link 330A and/or viathe wireless link 330B, respectively. The wireless link 330A and/or thewireless link 330B may employ at least one frequency carrier. Accordingto some of various aspects of embodiments, transceiver(s) may beemployed. A transceiver may be a device that comprises both atransmitter and a receiver. Transceivers may be employed in devices suchas wireless devices, base stations, relay nodes, and/or the like.Example embodiments for radio technology implemented in thecommunication interface 310, 320A, 320B and the wireless link 330A, 330Bare illustrated in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, FIG. 4D, FIG. 6, FIG. 7A,FIG. 7B, FIG. 8, and associated text.

In an example, other nodes in a wireless network (e.g. AMF, UPF, SMF,etc.) may comprise one or more communication interfaces, one or moreprocessors, and memory storing instructions.

A node (e.g. wireless device, base station, AMF, SMF, UPF, servers,switches, antennas, and/or the like) may comprise one or moreprocessors, and memory storing instructions that when executed by theone or more processors causes the node to perform certain processesand/or functions. Example embodiments may enable operation ofsingle-carrier and/or multi-carrier communications. Other exampleembodiments may comprise a non-transitory tangible computer readablemedia comprising instructions executable by one or more processors tocause operation of single-carrier and/or multi-carrier communications.Yet other example embodiments may comprise an article of manufacturethat comprises a non-transitory tangible computer readablemachine-accessible medium having instructions encoded thereon forenabling programmable hardware to cause a node to enable operation ofsingle-carrier and/or multi-carrier communications. The node may includeprocessors, memory, interfaces, and/or the like.

An interface may comprise at least one of a hardware interface, afirmware interface, a software interface, and/or a combination thereof.The hardware interface may comprise connectors, wires, electronicdevices such as drivers, amplifiers, and/or the like. The softwareinterface may comprise code stored in a memory device to implementprotocol(s), protocol layers, communication drivers, device drivers,combinations thereof, and/or the like. The firmware interface maycomprise a combination of embedded hardware and code stored in and/or incommunication with a memory device to implement connections, electronicdevice operations, protocol(s), protocol layers, communication drivers,device drivers, hardware operations, combinations thereof, and/or thelike.

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D are example diagrams for uplinkand downlink signal transmission as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 4A shows an example uplink transmitter forat least one physical channel. A baseband signal representing a physicaluplink shared channel may perform one or more functions. The one or morefunctions may comprise at least one of: scrambling; modulation ofscrambled bits to generate complex-valued symbols; mapping of thecomplex-valued modulation symbols onto one or several transmissionlayers; transform precoding to generate complex-valued symbols;precoding of the complex-valued symbols; mapping of precodedcomplex-valued symbols to resource elements; generation ofcomplex-valued time-domain Single Carrier-Frequency Division MultipleAccess (SC-FDMA) or CP-OFDM signal for an antenna port; and/or the like.In an example, when transform precoding is enabled, a SC-FDMA signal foruplink transmission may be generated. In an example, when transformprecoding is not enabled, an CP-OFDM signal for uplink transmission maybe generated by FIG. 4A. These functions are illustrated as examples andit is anticipated that other mechanisms may be implemented in variousembodiments.

An example structure for modulation and up-conversion to the carrierfrequency of the complex-valued SC-FDMA or CP-OFDM baseband signal foran antenna port and/or the complex-valued Physical Random Access CHannel(PRACH) baseband signal is shown in FIG. 4B. Filtering may be employedprior to transmission.

An example structure for downlink transmissions is shown in FIG. 4C. Thebaseband signal representing a downlink physical channel may perform oneor more functions. The one or more functions may comprise: scrambling ofcoded bits in a codeword to be transmitted on a physical channel;modulation of scrambled bits to generate complex-valued modulationsymbols; mapping of the complex-valued modulation symbols onto one orseveral transmission layers; precoding of the complex-valued modulationsymbols on a layer for transmission on the antenna ports; mapping ofcomplex-valued modulation symbols for an antenna port to resourceelements; generation of complex-valued time-domain OFDM signal for anantenna port; and/or the like. These functions are illustrated asexamples and it is anticipated that other mechanisms may be implementedin various embodiments.

In an example, a gNB may transmit a first symbol and a second symbol onan antenna port, to a wireless device. The wireless device may infer thechannel (e.g., fading gain, multipath delay, etc.) for conveying thesecond symbol on the antenna port, from the channel for conveying thefirst symbol on the antenna port. In an example, a first antenna portand a second antenna port may be quasi co-located if one or morelarge-scale properties of the channel over which a first symbol on thefirst antenna port is conveyed may be inferred from the channel overwhich a second symbol on a second antenna port is conveyed. The one ormore large-scale properties may comprise at least one of: delay spread;doppler spread; doppler shift; average gain; average delay; and/orspatial Receiving (Rx) parameters.

An example modulation and up-conversion to the carrier frequency of thecomplex-valued OFDM baseband signal for an antenna port is shown in FIG.4D. Filtering may be employed prior to transmission.

FIG. 5A is a diagram of an example uplink channel mapping and exampleuplink physical signals. FIG. 5B is a diagram of an example downlinkchannel mapping and a downlink physical signals. In an example, aphysical layer may provide one or more information transfer services toa MAC and/or one or more higher layers. For example, the physical layermay provide the one or more information transfer services to the MAC viaone or more transport channels. An information transfer service mayindicate how and with what characteristics data are transferred over theradio interface.

In an example embodiment, a radio network may comprise one or moredownlink and/or uplink transport channels. For example, a diagram inFIG. 5A shows example uplink transport channels comprising Uplink-SharedCHannel (UL-SCH) 501 and Random Access CHannel (RACH) 502. A diagram inFIG. 5B shows example downlink transport channels comprisingDownlink-Shared CHannel (DL-SCH) 511, Paging CHannel (PCH) 512, andBroadcast CHannel (BCH) 513. A transport channel may be mapped to one ormore corresponding physical channels. For example, UL-SCH 501 may bemapped to Physical Uplink Shared CHannel (PUSCH) 503. RACH 502 may bemapped to PRACH 505. DL-SCH 511 and PCH 512 may be mapped to PhysicalDownlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH) 514. BCH 513 may be mapped to PhysicalBroadcast CHannel (PBCH) 516.

There may be one or more physical channels without a correspondingtransport channel. The one or more physical channels may be employed forUplink Control Information (UCI) 509 and/or Downlink Control Information(DCI) 517. For example, Physical Uplink Control CHannel (PUCCH) 504 maycarry UCI 509 from a UE to a base station. For example, PhysicalDownlink Control CHannel (PDCCH) 515 may carry DCI 517 from a basestation to a UE. NR may support UCI 509 multiplexing in PUSCH 503 whenUCI 509 and PUSCH 503 transmissions may coincide in a slot at least inpart. The UCI 509 may comprise at least one of CSI, Acknowledgement(ACK)/Negative Acknowledgement (NACK), and/or scheduling request. TheDCI 517 on PDCCH 515 may indicate at least one of following: one or moredownlink assignments and/or one or more uplink scheduling grants

In uplink, a UE may transmit one or more Reference Signals (RSs) to abase station. For example, the one or more RSs may be at least one ofDemodulation-RS (DM-RS) 506, Phase Tracking-RS (PT-RS) 507, and/orSounding RS (SRS) 508. In downlink, a base station may transmit (e.g.,unicast, multicast, and/or broadcast) one or more RSs to a UE. Forexample, the one or more RSs may be at least one of PrimarySynchronization Signal (PSS)/Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) 521,CSI-RS 522, DM-RS 523, and/or PT-RS 524.

In an example, a UE may transmit one or more uplink DM-RSs 506 to a basestation for channel estimation, for example, for coherent demodulationof one or more uplink physical channels (e.g., PUSCH 503 and/or PUCCH504). For example, a UE may transmit a base station at least one uplinkDM-RS 506 with PUSCH 503 and/or PUCCH 504, wherein the at least oneuplink DM-RS 506 may be spanning a same frequency range as acorresponding physical channel. In an example, a base station mayconfigure a UE with one or more uplink DM-RS configurations. At leastone DM-RS configuration may support a front-loaded DM-RS pattern. Afront-loaded DM-RS may be mapped over one or more OFDM symbols (e.g., 1or 2 adjacent OFDM symbols). One or more additional uplink DM-RS may beconfigured to transmit at one or more symbols of a PUSCH and/or PUCCH. Abase station may semi-statistically configure a UE with a maximum numberof front-loaded DM-RS symbols for PUSCH and/or PUCCH. For example, a UEmay schedule a single-symbol DM-RS and/or double symbol DM-RS based on amaximum number of front-loaded DM-RS symbols, wherein a base station mayconfigure the UE with one or more additional uplink DM-RS for PUSCHand/or PUCCH. A new radio network may support, e.g., at least forCP-OFDM, a common DM-RS structure for DL and UL, wherein a DM-RSlocation, DM-RS pattern, and/or scrambling sequence may be same ordifferent.

In an example, whether uplink PT-RS 507 is present or not may depend ona RRC configuration. For example, a presence of uplink PT-RS may beUE-specifically configured. For example, a presence and/or a pattern ofuplink PT-RS 507 in a scheduled resource may be UE-specificallyconfigured by a combination of RRC signaling and/or association with oneor more parameters employed for other purposes (e.g., Modulation andCoding Scheme (MCS)) which may be indicated by DCI. When configured, adynamic presence of uplink PT-RS 507 may be associated with one or moreDCI parameters comprising at least MCS. A radio network may supportplurality of uplink PT-RS densities defined in time/frequency domain.When present, a frequency domain density may be associated with at leastone configuration of a scheduled bandwidth. A UE may assume a sameprecoding for a DMRS port and a PT-RS port. A number of PT-RS ports maybe fewer than a number of DM-RS ports in a scheduled resource. Forexample, uplink PT-RS 507 may be confined in the scheduledtime/frequency duration for a UE.

In an example, a UE may transmit SRS 508 to a base station for channelstate estimation to support uplink channel dependent scheduling and/orlink adaptation. For example, SRS 508 transmitted by a UE may allow fora base station to estimate an uplink channel state at one or moredifferent frequencies. A base station scheduler may employ an uplinkchannel state to assign one or more resource blocks of good quality foran uplink PUSCH transmission from a UE. A base station maysemi-statistically configure a UE with one or more SRS resource sets.For an SRS resource set, a base station may configure a UE with one ormore SRS resources. An SRS resource set applicability may be configuredby a higher layer (e.g., RRC) parameter. For example, when a higherlayer parameter indicates beam management, a SRS resource in each of oneor more SRS resource sets may be transmitted at a time instant. A UE maytransmit one or more SRS resources in different SRS resource setssimultaneously. A new radio network may support aperiodic, periodicand/or semi-persistent SRS transmissions. A UE may transmit SRSresources based on one or more trigger types, wherein the one or moretrigger types may comprise higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC) and/or oneor more DCI formats (e.g., at least one DCI format may be employed for aUE to select at least one of one or more configured SRS resource sets.An SRS trigger type 0 may refer to an SRS triggered based on a higherlayer signaling. An SRS trigger type 1 may refer to an SRS triggeredbased on one or more DCI formats. In an example, when PUSCH 503 and SRS508 are transmitted in a same slot, a UE may be configured to transmitSRS 508 after a transmission of PUSCH 503 and corresponding uplink DM-RS506.

In an example, a base station may semi-statistically configure a UE withone or more SRS configuration parameters indicating at least one offollowing: a SRS resource configuration identifier, a number of SRSports, time domain behavior of SRS resource configuration (e.g., anindication of periodic, semi-persistent, or aperiodic SRS), slot(mini-slot, and/or subframe) level periodicity and/or offset for aperiodic and/or aperiodic SRS resource, a number of OFDM symbols in aSRS resource, starting OFDM symbol of a SRS resource, a SRS bandwidth, afrequency hopping bandwidth, a cyclic shift, and/or a SRS sequence ID.

In an example, in a time domain, an SS/PBCH block may comprise one ormore OFDM symbols (e.g., 4 OFDM symbols numbered in increasing orderfrom 0 to 3) within the SS/PBCH block. An SS/PBCH block may comprisePSS/SSS 521 and PBCH 516. In an example, in the frequency domain, anSS/PBCH block may comprise one or more contiguous subcarriers (e.g., 240contiguous subcarriers with the subcarriers numbered in increasing orderfrom 0 to 239) within the SS/PBCH block. For example, a PSS/SSS 521 mayoccupy 1 OFDM symbol and 127 subcarriers. For example, PBCH 516 may spanacross 3 OFDM symbols and 240 subcarriers. A UE may assume that one ormore SS/PBCH blocks transmitted with a same block index may be quasico-located, e.g., with respect to Doppler spread, Doppler shift, averagegain, average delay, and spatial Rx parameters. A UE may not assumequasi co-location for other SS/PBCH block transmissions. A periodicityof an SS/PBCH block may be configured by a radio network (e.g., by anRRC signaling) and one or more time locations where the SS/PBCH blockmay be sent may be determined by sub-carrier spacing. In an example, aUE may assume a band-specific sub-carrier spacing for an SS/PBCH blockunless a radio network has configured a UE to assume a differentsub-carrier spacing.

In an example, downlink CSI-RS 522 may be employed for a UE to acquirechannel state information. A radio network may support periodic,aperiodic, and/or semi-persistent transmission of downlink CSI-RS 522.For example, a base station may semi-statistically configure and/orreconfigure a UE with periodic transmission of downlink CSI-RS 522. Aconfigured CSI-RS resources may be activated ad/or deactivated. Forsemi-persistent transmission, an activation and/or deactivation ofCSI-RS resource may be triggered dynamically. In an example, CSI-RSconfiguration may comprise one or more parameters indicating at least anumber of antenna ports. For example, a base station may configure a UEwith 32 ports. A base station may semi-statistically configure a UE withone or more CSI-RS resource sets. One or more CSI-RS resources may beallocated from one or more CSI-RS resource sets to one or more UEs. Forexample, a base station may semi-statistically configure one or moreparameters indicating CSI RS resource mapping, for example, time-domainlocation of one or more CSI-RS resources, a bandwidth of a CSI-RSresource, and/or a periodicity. In an example, a UE may be configured toemploy a same OFDM symbols for downlink CSI-RS 522 and control resourceset (coreset) when the downlink CSI-RS 522 and coreset are spatiallyquasi co-located and resource elements associated with the downlinkCSI-RS 522 are the outside of PRBs configured for coreset. In anexample, a UE may be configured to employ a same OFDM symbols fordownlink CSI-RS 522 and SSB/PBCH when the downlink CSI-RS 522 andSSB/PBCH are spatially quasi co-located and resource elements associatedwith the downlink CSI-RS 522 are the outside of PRBs configured forSSB/PBCH.

In an example, a UE may transmit one or more downlink DM-RSs 523 to abase station for channel estimation, for example, for coherentdemodulation of one or more downlink physical channels (e.g., PDSCH514). For example, a radio network may support one or more variableand/or configurable DM-RS patterns for data demodulation. At least onedownlink DM-RS configuration may support a front-loaded DM-RS pattern. Afront-loaded DM-RS may be mapped over one or more OFDM symbols (e.g., 1or 2 adjacent OFDM symbols). A base station may semi-statisticallyconfigure a UE with a maximum number of front-loaded DM-RS symbols forPDSCH 514. For example, a DM-RS configuration may support one or moreDM-RS ports. For example, for single user-MIMO, a DM-RS configurationmay support at least 8 orthogonal downlink DM-RS ports. For example, formultiuser-MIMO, a DM-RS configuration may support 12 orthogonal downlinkDM-RS ports. A radio network may support, e.g., at least for CP-OFDM, acommon DM-RS structure for DL and UL, wherein a DM-RS location, DM-RSpattern, and/or scrambling sequence may be same or different.

In an example, whether downlink PT-RS 524 is present or not may dependon a RRC configuration. For example, a presence of downlink PT-RS 524may be UE-specifically configured. For example, a presence and/or apattern of downlink PT-RS 524 in a scheduled resource may beUE-specifically configured by a combination of RRC signaling and/orassociation with one or more parameters employed for other purposes(e.g., MCS) which may be indicated by DCI. When configured, a dynamicpresence of downlink PT-RS 524 may be associated with one or more DCIparameters comprising at least MCS. A radio network may supportplurality of PT-RS densities defined in time/frequency domain. Whenpresent, a frequency domain density may be associated with at least oneconfiguration of a scheduled bandwidth. A UE may assume a same precodingfor a DMRS port and a PT-RS port. A number of PT-RS ports may be fewerthan a number of DM-RS ports in a scheduled resource. For example,downlink PT-RS 524 may be confined in the scheduled time/frequencyduration for a UE.

FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting an example frame structure for a carrieras per an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure. Amulticarrier OFDM communication system may include one or more carriers,for example, ranging from 1 to 32 carriers, in case of carrieraggregation, or ranging from 1 to 64 carriers, in case of dualconnectivity. Different radio frame structures may be supported (e.g.,for FDD and for TDD duplex mechanisms). FIG. 6 shows an example framestructure. Downlink and uplink transmissions may be organized into radioframes 601. In this example, radio frame duration is 10 ms. In thisexample, a 10 ms radio frame 601 may be divided into ten equally sizedsubframes 602 with 1 ms duration. Subframe(s) may comprise one or moreslots (e.g. slots 603 and 605) depending on subcarrier spacing and/or CPlength. For example, a subframe with 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz,240 kHz and 480 kHz subcarrier spacing may comprise one, two, four,eight, sixteen and thirty-two slots, respectively. In FIG. 6, a subframemay be divided into two equally sized slots 603 with 0.5 ms duration.For example, 10 subframes may be available for downlink transmission and10 subframes may be available for uplink transmissions in a 10 msinterval. Uplink and downlink transmissions may be separated in thefrequency domain. Slot(s) may include a plurality of OFDM symbols 604.The number of OFDM symbols 604 in a slot 605 may depend on the cyclicprefix length. For example, a slot may be 14 OFDM symbols for the samesubcarrier spacing of up to 480 kHz with normal CP. A slot may be 12OFDM symbols for the same subcarrier spacing of 60 kHz with extended CP.A slot may contain downlink, uplink, or a downlink part and an uplinkpart and/or alike.

FIG. 7A is a diagram depicting example sets of OFDM subcarriers as peran aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example, agNB may communicate with a wireless device with a carrier with anexample channel bandwidth 700. Arrow(s) in the diagram may depict asubcarrier in a multicarrier OFDM system. The OFDM system may usetechnology such as OFDM technology, SC-FDMA technology, and/or the like.In an example, an arrow 701 shows a subcarrier transmitting informationsymbols. In an example, a subcarrier spacing 702, between two contiguoussubcarriers in a carrier, may be any one of 15 KHz, 30 KHz, 60 KHz, 120KHz, 240 KHz etc. In an example, different subcarrier spacing maycorrespond to different transmission numerologies. In an example, atransmission numerology may comprise at least: a numerology index; avalue of subcarrier spacing; a type of cyclic prefix (CP). In anexample, a gNB may transmit to/receive from a UE on a number ofsubcarriers 703 in a carrier. In an example, a bandwidth occupied by anumber of subcarriers 703 (transmission bandwidth) may be smaller thanthe channel bandwidth 700 of a carrier, due to guard band 704 and 705.In an example, a guard band 704 and 705 may be used to reduceinterference to and from one or more neighbor carriers. A number ofsubcarriers (transmission bandwidth) in a carrier may depend on thechannel bandwidth of the carrier and the subcarrier spacing. Forexample, a transmission bandwidth, for a carrier with 20 MHz channelbandwidth and 15 KHz subcarrier spacing, may be in number of 1024subcarriers.

In an example, a gNB and a wireless device may communicate with multipleCCs when configured with CA. In an example, different component carriersmay have different bandwidth and/or subcarrier spacing, if CA issupported. In an example, a gNB may transmit a first type of service toa UE on a first component carrier. The gNB may transmit a second type ofservice to the UE on a second component carrier. Different type ofservices may have different service requirement (e.g., data rate,latency, reliability), which may be suitable for transmission viadifferent component carrier having different subcarrier spacing and/orbandwidth. FIG. 7B shows an example embodiment. A first componentcarrier may comprise a first number of subcarriers 706 with a firstsubcarrier spacing 709. A second component carrier may comprise a secondnumber of subcarriers 707 with a second subcarrier spacing 710. A thirdcomponent carrier may comprise a third number of subcarriers 708 with athird subcarrier spacing 711. Carriers in a multicarrier OFDMcommunication system may be contiguous carriers, non-contiguouscarriers, or a combination of both contiguous and non-contiguouscarriers.

FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting OFDM radio resources as per an aspect ofan embodiment of the present disclosure. In an example, a carrier mayhave a transmission bandwidth 801. In an example, a resource grid may bein a structure of frequency domain 802 and time domain 803. In anexample, a resource grid may comprise a first number of OFDM symbols ina subframe and a second number of resource blocks, starting from acommon resource block indicated by higher-layer signaling (e.g. RRCsignaling), for a transmission numerology and a carrier. In an example,in a resource grid, a resource unit identified by a subcarrier index anda symbol index may be a resource element 805. In an example, a subframemay comprise a first number of OFDM symbols 807 depending on anumerology associated with a carrier. For example, when a subcarrierspacing of a numerology of a carrier is 15 KHz, a subframe may have 14OFDM symbols for a carrier. When a subcarrier spacing of a numerology is30 KHz, a subframe may have 28 OFDM symbols. When a subcarrier spacingof a numerology is 60 Khz, a subframe may have 56 OFDM symbols, etc. Inan example, a second number of resource blocks comprised in a resourcegrid of a carrier may depend on a bandwidth and a numerology of thecarrier.

As shown in FIG. 8, a resource block 806 may comprise 12 subcarriers. Inan example, multiple resource blocks may be grouped into a ResourceBlock Group (RBG) 804. In an example, a size of a RBG may depend on atleast one of: a RRC message indicating a RBG size configuration; a sizeof a carrier bandwidth; or a size of a bandwidth part of a carrier. Inan example, a carrier may comprise multiple bandwidth parts. A firstbandwidth part of a carrier may have different frequency location and/orbandwidth from a second bandwidth part of the carrier.

In an example, a gNB may transmit a downlink control informationcomprising a downlink or uplink resource block assignment to a wirelessdevice. A base station may transmit to or receive from, a wirelessdevice, data packets (e.g. transport blocks) scheduled and transmittedvia one or more resource blocks and one or more slots according toparameters in a downlink control information and/or RRC message(s). Inan example, a starting symbol relative to a first slot of the one ormore slots may be indicated to the wireless device. In an example, a gNBmay transmit to or receive from, a wireless device, data packetsscheduled on one or more RBGs and one or more slots.

In an example, a gNB may transmit a downlink control informationcomprising a downlink assignment to a wireless device via one or morePDCCHs. The downlink assignment may comprise parameters indicating atleast modulation and coding format; resource allocation; and/or HARQinformation related to DL-SCH. In an example, a resource allocation maycomprise parameters of resource block allocation; and/or slotallocation. In an example, a gNB may dynamically allocate resources to awireless device via a Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI)on one or more PDCCHs. The wireless device may monitor the one or morePDCCHs in order to find possible allocation when its downlink receptionis enabled. The wireless device may receive one or more downlink datapackage on one or more PDSCH scheduled by the one or more PDCCHs, whensuccessfully detecting the one or more PDCCHs.

In an example, a gNB may allocate Configured Scheduling (CS) resourcesfor down link transmission to a wireless device. The gNB may transmitone or more RRC messages indicating a periodicity of the CS grant. ThegNB may transmit a DCI via a PDCCH addressed to a ConfiguredScheduling-RNTI (CS-RNTI) activating the CS resources. The DCI maycomprise parameters indicating that the downlink grant is a CS grant.The CS grant may be implicitly reused according to the periodicitydefined by the one or more RRC messages, until deactivated.

In an example, a gNB may transmit a downlink control informationcomprising an uplink grant to a wireless device via one or more PDCCHs.The uplink grant may comprise parameters indicating at least modulationand coding format; resource allocation; and/or HARQ information relatedto UL-SCH. In an example, a resource allocation may comprise parametersof resource block allocation; and/or slot allocation. In an example, agNB may dynamically allocate resources to a wireless device via a C-RNTIon one or more PDCCHs. The wireless device may monitor the one or morePDCCHs in order to find possible resource allocation. The wirelessdevice may transmit one or more uplink data package via one or morePUSCH scheduled by the one or more PDCCHs, when successfully detectingthe one or more PDCCHs.

In an example, a gNB may allocate CS resources for uplink datatransmission to a wireless device. The gNB may transmit one or more RRCmessages indicating a periodicity of the CS grant. The gNB may transmita DCI via a PDCCH addressed to a CS-RNTI activating the CS resources.The DCI may comprise parameters indicating that the uplink grant is a CSgrant. The CS grant may be implicitly reused according to theperiodicity defined by the one or more RRC message, until deactivated.

In an example, a base station may transmit DCI/control signaling viaPDCCH. The DCI may take a format in a plurality of formats. A DCI maycomprise downlink and/or uplink scheduling information (e.g., resourceallocation information, HARQ related parameters, MCS), request for CSI(e.g., aperiodic CQI reports), request for SRS, uplink power controlcommands for one or more cells, one or more timing information (e.g., TBtransmission/reception timing, HARQ feedback timing, etc.), etc. In anexample, a DCI may indicate an uplink grant comprising transmissionparameters for one or more transport blocks. In an example, a DCI mayindicate downlink assignment indicating parameters for receiving one ormore transport blocks. In an example, a DCI may be used by base stationto initiate a contention-free random access at the wireless device. Inan example, the base station may transmit a DCI comprising slot formatindicator (SFI) notifying a slot format. In an example, the base stationmay transmit a DCI comprising pre-emption indication notifying thePRB(s) and/or OFDM symbol(s) where a UE may assume no transmission isintended for the UE. In an example, the base station may transmit a DCIfor group power control of PUCCH or PUSCH or SRS. In an example, a DCImay correspond to an RNTI. In an example, the wireless device may obtainan RNTI in response to completing the initial access (e.g., C-RNTI). Inan example, the base station may configure an RNTI for the wireless(e.g., CS-RNTI, TPC-CS-RNTI, TPC-PUCCH-RNTI, TPC-PUSCH-RNTI,TPC-SRS-RNTI). In an example, the wireless device may compute an RNTI(e.g., the wireless device may compute RA-RNTI based on resources usedfor transmission of a preamble). In an example, an RNTI may have apre-configured value (e.g., P-RNTI or SI-RNTI). In an example, awireless device may monitor a group common search space which may beused by base station for transmitting DCIs that are intended for a groupof UEs. In an example, a group common DCI may correspond to an RNTIwhich is commonly configured for a group of UEs. In an example, awireless device may monitor a UE-specific search space. In an example, aUE specific DCI may correspond to an RNTI configured for the wirelessdevice.

A NR system may support a single beam operation and/or a multi-beamoperation. In a multi-beam operation, a base station may perform adownlink beam sweeping to provide coverage for common control channelsand/or downlink SS blocks, which may comprise at least a PSS, a SSS,and/or PBCH. A wireless device may measure quality of a beam pair linkusing one or more RSs. One or more SS blocks, or one or more CSI-RSresources, associated with a CSI-RS resource index (CRI), or one or moreDM-RSs of PBCH, may be used as RS for measuring quality of a beam pairlink. Quality of a beam pair link may be defined as a reference signalreceived power (RSRP) value, or a reference signal received quality(RSRQ) value, and/or a CSI value measured on RS resources. The basestation may indicate whether an RS resource, used for measuring a beampair link quality, is quasi-co-located (QCLed) with DM-RSs of a controlchannel. A RS resource and DM-RSs of a control channel may be calledQCLed when a channel characteristics from a transmission on an RS to awireless device, and that from a transmission on a control channel to awireless device, are similar or same under a configured criterion. In amulti-beam operation, a wireless device may perform an uplink beamsweeping to access a cell.

In an example, a wireless device may be configured to monitor PDCCH onone or more beam pair links simultaneously depending on a capability ofa wireless device. This may increase robustness against beam pair linkblocking. A base station may transmit one or more messages to configurea wireless device to monitor PDCCH on one or more beam pair links indifferent PDCCH OFDM symbols. For example, a base station may transmithigher layer signaling (e.g. RRC signaling) or MAC CE comprisingparameters related to the Rx beam setting of a wireless device formonitoring PDCCH on one or more beam pair links. A base station maytransmit indication of spatial QCL assumption between an DL RS antennaport(s) (for example, cell-specific CSI-RS, or wireless device-specificCSI-RS, or SS block, or PBCH with or without DM-RSs of PBCH), and DL RSantenna port(s) for demodulation of DL control channel. Signaling forbeam indication for a PDCCH may be MAC CE signaling, or RRC signaling,or DCI signaling, or specification-transparent and/or implicit method,and combination of these signaling methods.

For reception of unicast DL data channel, a base station may indicatespatial QCL parameters between DL RS antenna port(s) and DM-RS antennaport(s) of DL data channel. The base station may transmit DCI (e.g.downlink grants) comprising information indicating the RS antennaport(s). The information may indicate RS antenna port(s) which may beQCL-ed with the DM-RS antenna port(s). Different set of DM-RS antennaport(s) for a DL data channel may be indicated as QCL with different setof the RS antenna port(s).

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show packet flows employing a multi connectivity(e.g. dual connectivity, multi connectivity, tight interworking, and/orthe like). FIG. 9A is an example diagram of a protocol structure of awireless device 110 (e.g. UE) with CA and/or multi connectivity as peran aspect of an embodiment. FIG. 9B is an example diagram of a protocolstructure of multiple base stations with CA and/or multi connectivity asper an aspect of an embodiment. The multiple base stations may comprisea master node, MN 1130 (e.g. a master node, a master base station, amaster gNB, a master eNB, and/or the like) and a secondary node, SN 1150(e.g. a secondary node, a secondary base station, a secondary gNB, asecondary eNB, and/or the like). A master node 1130 and a secondary node1150 may co-work to communicate with a wireless device 110.

When multi connectivity is configured for a wireless device 110, thewireless device 110, which may support multiple reception/transmissionfunctions in an RRC connected state, may be configured to utilize radioresources provided by multiple schedulers of a multiple base stations.Multiple base stations may be inter-connected via a non-ideal or idealbackhaul (e.g. Xn interface, X2 interface, and/or the like). A basestation involved in multi connectivity for a certain wireless device mayperform at least one of two different roles: a base station may eitheract as a master base station or as a secondary base station. In multiconnectivity, a wireless device may be connected to one master basestation and one or more secondary base stations. In an example, a masterbase station (e.g. the MN 1130) may provide a master cell group (MCG)comprising a primary cell and/or one or more secondary cells for awireless device (e.g. the wireless device 110). A secondary base station(e.g. the SN 1150) may provide a secondary cell group (SCG) comprising aprimary secondary cell (PSCell) and/or one or more secondary cells for awireless device (e.g. the wireless device 110).

In multi connectivity, a radio protocol architecture that a beareremploys may depend on how a bearer is setup. In an example, threedifferent type of bearer setup options may be supported: an MCG bearer,an SCG bearer, and/or a split bearer. A wireless device mayreceive/transmit packets of an MCG bearer via one or more cells of theMCG, and/or may receive/transmits packets of an SCG bearer via one ormore cells of an SCG. Multi-connectivity may also be described as havingat least one bearer configured to use radio resources provided by thesecondary base station. Multi-connectivity may or may not beconfigured/implemented in some of the example embodiments.

In an example, a wireless device (e.g. Wireless Device 110) may transmitand/or receive: packets of an MCG bearer via an SDAP layer (e.g. SDAP1110), a PDCP layer (e.g. NR PDCP 1111), an RLC layer (e.g. MN RLC1114), and a MAC layer (e.g. MN MAC 1118); packets of a split bearer viaan SDAP layer (e.g. SDAP 1110), a PDCP layer (e.g. NR PDCP 1112), one ofa master or secondary RLC layer (e.g. MN RLC 1115, SN RLC 1116), and oneof a master or secondary MAC layer (e.g. MN MAC 1118, SN MAC 1119);and/or packets of an SCG bearer via an SDAP layer (e.g. SDAP 1110), aPDCP layer (e.g. NR PDCP 1113), an RLC layer (e.g. SN RLC 1117), and aMAC layer (e.g. MN MAC 1119).

In an example, a master base station (e.g. MN 1130) and/or a secondarybase station (e.g. SN 1150) may transmit/receive: packets of an MCGbearer via a master or secondary node SDAP layer (e.g. SDAP 1120, SDAP1140), a master or secondary node PDCP layer (e.g. NR PDCP 1121, NR PDCP1142), a master node RLC layer (e.g. MN RLC 1124, MN RLC 1125), and amaster node MAC layer (e.g. MN MAC 1128); packets of an SCG bearer via amaster or secondary node SDAP layer (e.g. SDAP 1120, SDAP 1140), amaster or secondary node PDCP layer (e.g. NR PDCP 1122, NR PDCP 1143), asecondary node RLC layer (e.g. SN RLC 1146, SN RLC 1147), and asecondary node MAC layer (e.g. SN MAC 1148); packets of a split bearervia a master or secondary node SDAP layer (e.g. SDAP 1120, SDAP 1140), amaster or secondary node PDCP layer (e.g. NR PDCP 1123, NR PDCP 1141), amaster or secondary node RLC layer (e.g. MN RLC 1126, SN RLC 1144, SNRLC 1145, MN RLC 1127), and a master or secondary node MAC layer (e.g.MN MAC 1128, SN MAC 1148).

In multi connectivity, a wireless device may configure multiple MACentities: one MAC entity (e.g. MN MAC 1118) for a master base station,and other MAC entities (e.g. SN MAC 1119) for a secondary base station.In multi-connectivity, a configured set of serving cells for a wirelessdevice may comprise two subsets: an MCG comprising serving cells of amaster base station, and SCGs comprising serving cells of a secondarybase station. For an SCG, one or more of following configurations may beapplied: at least one cell of an SCG has a configured UL CC and at leastone cell of a SCG, named as primary secondary cell (PSCell, PCell ofSCG, or sometimes called PCell), is configured with PUCCH resources;when an SCG is configured, there may be at least one SCG bearer or oneSplit bearer; upon detection of a physical layer problem or a randomaccess problem on a PSCell, or a number of NR RLC retransmissions hasbeen reached associated with the SCG, or upon detection of an accessproblem on a PSCell during a SCG addition or a SCG change: an RRCconnection re-establishment procedure may not be triggered, ULtransmissions towards cells of an SCG may be stopped, a master basestation may be informed by a wireless device of a SCG failure type, forsplit bearer, a DL data transfer over a master base station may bemaintained; an NR RLC acknowledged mode (AM) bearer may be configuredfor a split bearer; PCell and/or PSCell may not be de-activated; PSCellmay be changed with a SCG change procedure (e.g. with security keychange and a RACH procedure); and/or a bearer type change between asplit bearer and a SCG bearer or simultaneous configuration of a SCG anda split bearer may or may not supported.

With respect to interaction between a master base station and asecondary base stations for multi-connectivity, one or more of thefollowing may be applied: a master base station and/or a secondary basestation may maintain RRM measurement configurations of a wirelessdevice; a master base station may (e.g. based on received measurementreports, traffic conditions, and/or bearer types) may decide to requesta secondary base station to provide additional resources (e.g. servingcells) for a wireless device; upon receiving a request from a masterbase station, a secondary base station may create/modify a containerthat may result in configuration of additional serving cells for awireless device (or decide that the secondary base station has noresource available to do so); for a UE capability coordination, a masterbase station may provide (a part of) an AS configuration and UEcapabilities to a secondary base station; a master base station and asecondary base station may exchange information about a UE configurationby employing of RRC containers (inter-node messages) carried via Xnmessages; a secondary base station may initiate a reconfiguration of thesecondary base station existing serving cells (e.g. PUCCH towards thesecondary base station); a secondary base station may decide which cellis a PSCell within a SCG; a master base station may or may not changecontent of RRC configurations provided by a secondary base station; incase of a SCG addition and/or a SCG SCell addition, a master basestation may provide recent (or the latest) measurement results for SCGcell(s); a master base station and secondary base stations may receiveinformation of SFN and/or subframe offset of each other from OAM and/orvia an Xn interface, (e.g. for a purpose of DRX alignment and/oridentification of a measurement gap). In an example, when adding a newSCG SCell, dedicated RRC signaling may be used for sending requiredsystem information of a cell as for CA, except for a SFN acquired from aMIB of a PSCell of a SCG.

FIG. 10 is an example diagram of a random access procedure. One or moreevents may trigger a random access procedure. For example, one or moreevents may be at least one of following: initial access from RRC_IDLE,RRC connection re-establishment procedure, handover, DL or UL dataarrival during RRC_CONNECTED when UL synchronization status isnon-synchronized, transition from RRC_Inactive, and/or request for othersystem information. For example, a PDCCH order, a MAC entity, and/or abeam failure indication may initiate a random access procedure.

In an example embodiment, a random access procedure may be at least oneof a contention based random access procedure and a contention freerandom access procedure. For example, a contention based random accessprocedure may comprise, one or more Msg 1 1220 transmissions, one ormore Msg2 1230 transmissions, one or more Msg3 1240 transmissions, andcontention resolution 1250. For example, a contention free random accessprocedure may comprise one or more Msg 1 1220 transmissions and one ormore Msg2 1230 transmissions.

In an example, a base station may transmit (e.g., unicast, multicast, orbroadcast), to a UE, a RACH configuration 1210 via one or more beams.The RACH configuration 1210 may comprise one or more parametersindicating at least one of following: available set of PRACH resourcesfor a transmission of a random access preamble, initial preamble power(e.g., random access preamble initial received target power), an RSRPthreshold for a selection of a SS block and corresponding PRACHresource, a power-ramping factor (e.g., random access preamble powerramping step), random access preamble index, a maximum number ofpreamble transmission, preamble group A and group B, a threshold (e.g.,message size) to determine the groups of random access preambles, a setof one or more random access preambles for system information requestand corresponding PRACH resource(s), if any, a set of one or more randomaccess preambles for beam failure recovery request and correspondingPRACH resource(s), if any, a time window to monitor RA response(s), atime window to monitor response(s) on beam failure recovery request,and/or a contention resolution timer.

In an example, the Msg1 1220 may be one or more transmissions of arandom access preamble. For a contention based random access procedure,a UE may select a SS block with a RSRP above the RSRP threshold. Ifrandom access preambles group B exists, a UE may select one or morerandom access preambles from a group A or a group B depending on apotential Msg3 1240 size. If a random access preambles group B does notexist, a UE may select the one or more random access preambles from agroup A. A UE may select a random access preamble index randomly (e.g.with equal probability or a normal distribution) from one or more randomaccess preambles associated with a selected group. If a base stationsemi-statistically configures a UE with an association between randomaccess preambles and SS blocks, the UE may select a random accesspreamble index randomly with equal probability from one or more randomaccess preambles associated with a selected SS block and a selectedgroup.

For example, a UE may initiate a contention free random access procedurebased on a beam failure indication from a lower layer. For example, abase station may semi-statistically configure a UE with one or morecontention free PRACH resources for beam failure recovery requestassociated with at least one of SS blocks and/or CSI-RSs. If at leastone of SS blocks with a RSRP above a first RSRP threshold amongstassociated SS blocks or at least one of CSI-RSs with a RSRP above asecond RSRP threshold amongst associated CSI-RSs is available, a UE mayselect a random access preamble index corresponding to a selected SSblock or CSI-RS from a set of one or more random access preambles forbeam failure recovery request.

For example, a UE may receive, from a base station, a random accesspreamble index via PDCCH or RRC for a contention free random accessprocedure. If a base station does not configure a UE with at least onecontention free PRACH resource associated with SS blocks or CSI-RS, theUE may select a random access preamble index. If a base stationconfigures a UE with one or more contention free PRACH resourcesassociated with SS blocks and at least one SS block with a RSRP above afirst RSRP threshold amongst associated SS blocks is available, the UEmay select the at least one SS block and select a random access preamblecorresponding to the at least one SS block. If a base station configuresa UE with one or more contention free PRACH resources associated withCSI-RSs and at least one CSI-RS with a RSRP above a second RSPRthreshold amongst the associated CSI-RSs is available, the UE may selectthe at least one CSI-RS and select a random access preamblecorresponding to the at least one CSI-RS.

A UE may perform one or more Msg1 1220 transmissions by transmitting theselected random access preamble. For example, if a UE selects an SSblock and is configured with an association between one or more PRACHoccasions and one or more SS blocks, the UE may determine an PRACHoccasion from one or more PRACH occasions corresponding to a selected SSblock. For example, if a UE selects a CSI-RS and is configured with anassociation between one or more PRACH occasions and one or more CSI-RSs,the UE may determine a PRACH occasion from one or more PRACH occasionscorresponding to a selected CSI-RS. A UE may transmit, to a basestation, a selected random access preamble via a selected PRACHoccasions. A UE may determine a transmit power for a transmission of aselected random access preamble at least based on an initial preamblepower and a power-ramping factor. A UE may determine a RA-RNTIassociated with a selected PRACH occasions in which a selected randomaccess preamble is transmitted. For example, a UE may not determine aRA-RNTI for a beam failure recovery request. A UE may determine anRA-RNTI at least based on an index of a first OFDM symbol and an indexof a first slot of a selected PRACH occasions, and/or an uplink carrierindex for a transmission of Msg1 1220.

In an example, a UE may receive, from a base station, a random accessresponse, Msg 2 1230. A UE may start a time window (e.g., ra-ResponseWindow) to monitor a random access response. For beam failure recoveryrequest, a base station may configure a UE with a different time window(e.g., bfr-Response Window) to monitor response on beam failure recoveryrequest. For example, a UE may start a time window (e.g.,ra-ResponseWindow or bfr-Response Window) at a start of a first PDCCHoccasion after a fixed duration of one or more symbols from an end of apreamble transmission. If a UE transmits multiple preambles, the UE maystart a time window at a start of a first PDCCH occasion after a fixedduration of one or more symbols from an end of a first preambletransmission. A UE may monitor a PDCCH of a cell for at least one randomaccess response identified by a RA-RNTI or for at least one response tobeam failure recovery request identified by a C-RNTI while a timer for atime window is running.

In an example, a UE may consider a reception of random access responsesuccessful if at least one random access response comprises a randomaccess preamble identifier corresponding to a random access preambletransmitted by the UE. A UE may consider the contention free randomaccess procedure successfully completed if a reception of random accessresponse is successful. If a contention free random access procedure istriggered for a beam failure recovery request, a UE may consider acontention free random access procedure successfully complete if a PDCCHtransmission is addressed to a C-RNTI. In an example, if at least onerandom access response comprises a random access preamble identifier, aUE may consider the random access procedure successfully completed andmay indicate a reception of an acknowledgement for a system informationrequest to upper layers. If a UE has signaled multiple preambletransmissions, the UE may stop transmitting remaining preambles (if any)in response to a successful reception of a corresponding random accessresponse.

In an example, a UE may perform one or more Msg 3 1240 transmissions inresponse to a successful reception of random access response (e.g., fora contention based random access procedure). A UE may adjust an uplinktransmission timing based on a timing advanced command indicated by arandom access response and may transmit one or more transport blocksbased on an uplink grant indicated by a random access response.Subcarrier spacing for PUSCH transmission for Msg3 1240 may be providedby at least one higher layer (e.g. RRC) parameter. A UE may transmit arandom access preamble via PRACH and Msg3 1240 via PUSCH on a same cell.A base station may indicate an UL BWP for a PUSCH transmission of Msg31240 via system information block. A UE may employ HARQ for aretransmission of Msg 3 1240.

In an example, multiple UEs may perform Msg 1 1220 by transmitting asame preamble to a base station and receive, from the base station, asame random access response comprising an identity (e.g., TC-RNTI).Contention resolution 1250 may ensure that a UE does not incorrectly usean identity of another UE. For example, contention resolution 1250 maybe based on C-RNTI on PDCCH or a UE contention resolution identity onDL-SCH. For example, if a base station assigns a C-RNTI to a UE, the UEmay perform contention resolution 1250 based on a reception of a PDCCHtransmission that is addressed to the C-RNTI. In response to detectionof a C-RNTI on a PDCCH, a UE may consider contention resolution 1250successful and may consider a random access procedure successfullycompleted. If a UE has no valid C-RNTI, a contention resolution may beaddressed by employing a TC-RNTI. For example, if a MAC PDU issuccessfully decoded and a MAC PDU comprises a UE contention resolutionidentity MAC CE that matches the CCCH SDU transmitted in Msg3 1250, a UEmay consider the contention resolution 1250 successful and may considerthe random access procedure successfully completed.

FIG. 11 is an example structure for MAC entities as per an aspect of anembodiment. In an example, a wireless device may be configured tooperate in a multi-connectivity mode. A wireless device in RRC_CONNECTEDwith multiple RX/TX may be configured to utilize radio resourcesprovided by multiple schedulers located in a plurality of base stations.The plurality of base stations may be connected via a non-ideal or idealbackhaul over the Xn interface. In an example, a base station in aplurality of base stations may act as a master base station or as asecondary base station. A wireless device may be connected to one masterbase station and one or more secondary base stations. A wireless devicemay be configured with multiple MAC entities, e.g. one MAC entity formaster base station, and one or more other MAC entities for secondarybase station(s). In an example, a configured set of serving cells for awireless device may comprise two subsets: an MCG comprising servingcells of a master base station, and one or more SCGs comprising servingcells of a secondary base station(s). FIG. 13 illustrates an examplestructure for MAC entities when MCG and SCG are configured for awireless device.

In an example, at least one cell in a SCG may have a configured UL CC,wherein a cell of at least one cell may be called PSCell or PCell ofSCG, or sometimes may be simply called PCell. A PSCell may be configuredwith PUCCH resources. In an example, when a SCG is configured, there maybe at least one SCG bearer or one split bearer. In an example, upondetection of a physical layer problem or a random access problem on aPSCell, or upon reaching a number of RLC retransmissions associated withthe SCG, or upon detection of an access problem on a PSCell during a SCGaddition or a SCG change: an RRC connection re-establishment proceduremay not be triggered, UL transmissions towards cells of an SCG may bestopped, a master base station may be informed by a UE of a SCG failuretype and DL data transfer over a master base station may be maintained.

In an example, a MAC sublayer may provide services such as data transferand radio resource allocation to upper layers (e.g. 1310 or 1320). A MACsublayer may comprise a plurality of MAC entities (e.g. 1350 and 1360).A MAC sublayer may provide data transfer services on logical channels.To accommodate different kinds of data transfer services, multiple typesof logical channels may be defined. A logical channel may supporttransfer of a particular type of information. A logical channel type maybe defined by what type of information (e.g., control or data) istransferred. For example, BCCH, PCCH, CCCH and DCCH may be controlchannels and DTCH may be a traffic channel. In an example, a first MACentity (e.g. 1310) may provide services on PCCH, BCCH, CCCH, DCCH, DTCHand MAC control elements. In an example, a second MAC entity (e.g. 1320)may provide services on BCCH, DCCH, DTCH and MAC control elements.

A MAC sublayer may expect from a physical layer (e.g. 1330 or 1340)services such as data transfer services, signaling of HARQ feedback,signaling of scheduling request or measurements (e.g. CQI). In anexample, in dual connectivity, two MAC entities may be configured for awireless device: one for MCG and one for SCG. A MAC entity of wirelessdevice may handle a plurality of transport channels. In an example, afirst MAC entity may handle first transport channels comprising a PCCHof MCG, a first BCH of MCG, one or more first DL-SCHs of MCG, one ormore first UL-SCHs of MCG and one or more first RACHs of MCG. In anexample, a second MAC entity may handle second transport channelscomprising a second BCH of SCG, one or more second DL-SCHs of SCG, oneor more second UL-SCHs of SCG and one or more second RACHs of SCG.

In an example, if a MAC entity is configured with one or more SCells,there may be multiple DL-SCHs and there may be multiple UL-SCHs as wellas multiple RACHs per MAC entity. In an example, there may be one DL-SCHand UL-SCH on a SpCell. In an example, there may be one DL-SCH, zero orone UL-SCH and zero or one RACH for an SCell. A DL-SCH may supportreceptions using different numerologies and/or TTI duration within a MACentity. A UL-SCH may also support transmissions using differentnumerologies and/or TTI duration within the MAC entity.

In an example, a MAC sublayer may support different functions and maycontrol these functions with a control (e.g. 1355 or 1365) element.Functions performed by a MAC entity may comprise mapping between logicalchannels and transport channels (e.g., in uplink or downlink),multiplexing (e.g. 1352 or 1362) of MAC SDUs from one or differentlogical channels onto transport blocks (TB) to be delivered to thephysical layer on transport channels (e.g., in uplink), demultiplexing(e.g. 1352 or 1362) of MAC SDUs to one or different logical channelsfrom transport blocks (TB) delivered from the physical layer ontransport channels (e.g., in downlink), scheduling information reporting(e.g., in uplink), error correction through HARQ in uplink or downlink(e.g. 1363), and logical channel prioritization in uplink (e.g. 1351 or1361). A MAC entity may handle a random access process (e.g. 1354 or1364).

FIG. 12 is an example diagram of a RAN architecture comprising one ormore base stations. In an example, a protocol stack (e.g. RRC, SDAP,PDCP, RLC, MAC, and PHY) may be supported at a node. A base station(e.g. 120A or 120B) may comprise a base station central unit (CU) (e.g.gNB-CU 1420A or 1420B) and at least one base station distributed unit(DU) (e.g. gNB-DU 1430A, 1430B, 1430C, or 1430D) if a functional splitis configured. Upper protocol layers of a base station may be located ina base station CU, and lower layers of the base station may be locatedin the base station DUs. An F1 interface (e.g. CU-DU interface)connecting a base station CU and base station DUs may be an ideal ornon-ideal backhaul. F1-C may provide a control plane connection over anF1 interface, and F1-U may provide a user plane connection over the F1interface. In an example, an Xn interface may be configured between basestation CUs.

In an example, a base station CU may comprise an RRC function, an SDAPlayer, and a PDCP layer, and base station DUs may comprise an RLC layer,a MAC layer, and a PHY layer. In an example, various functional splitoptions between a base station CU and base station DUs may be possibleby locating different combinations of upper protocol layers (RANfunctions) in a base station CU and different combinations of lowerprotocol layers (RAN functions) in base station DUs. A functional splitmay support flexibility to move protocol layers between a base stationCU and base station DUs depending on service requirements and/or networkenvironments.

In an example, functional split options may be configured per basestation, per base station CU, per base station DU, per UE, per bearer,per slice, or with other granularities. In per base station CU split, abase station CU may have a fixed split option, and base station DUs maybe configured to match a split option of a base station CU. In per basestation DU split, a base station DU may be configured with a differentsplit option, and a base station CU may provide different split optionsfor different base station DUs. In per UE split, a base station (basestation CU and at least one base station DUs) may provide differentsplit options for different wireless devices. In per bearer split,different split options may be utilized for different bearers. In perslice splice, different split options may be applied for differentslices.

FIG. 13 is an example diagram showing RRC state transitions of awireless device. In an example, a wireless device may be in at least oneRRC state among an RRC connected state (e.g. RRC Connected 1530,RRC_Connected), an RRC idle state (e.g. RRC Idle 1510, RRC_Idle), and/oran RRC inactive state (e.g. RRC Inactive 1520, RRC_Inactive). In anexample, in an RRC connected state, a wireless device may have at leastone RRC connection with at least one base station (e.g. gNB and/or eNB),which may have a UE context of the wireless device. A UE context (e.g. awireless device context) may comprise at least one of an access stratumcontext, one or more radio link configuration parameters, bearer (e.g.data radio bearer (DRB), signaling radio bearer (SRB), logical channel,QoS flow, PDU session, and/or the like) configuration information,security information, PHY/MAC/RLC/PDCP/SDAP layer configurationinformation, and/or the like configuration information for a wirelessdevice. In an example, in an RRC idle state, a wireless device may nothave an RRC connection with a base station, and a UE context of awireless device may not be stored in a base station. In an example, inan RRC inactive state, a wireless device may not have an RRC connectionwith a base station. A UE context of a wireless device may be stored ina base station, which may be called as an anchor base station (e.g. lastserving base station).

In an example, a wireless device may transition a UE RRC state betweenan RRC idle state and an RRC connected state in both ways (e.g.connection release 1540 or connection establishment 1550; or connectionreestablishment) and/or between an RRC inactive state and an RRCconnected state in both ways (e.g. connection inactivation 1570 orconnection resume 1580). In an example, a wireless device may transitionits RRC state from an RRC inactive state to an RRC idle state (e.g.connection release 1560).

In an example, an anchor base station may be a base station that maykeep a UE context (a wireless device context) of a wireless device atleast during a time period that a wireless device stays in a RANnotification area (RNA) of an anchor base station, and/or that awireless device stays in an RRC inactive state. In an example, an anchorbase station may be a base station that a wireless device in an RRCinactive state was lastly connected to in a latest RRC connected stateor that a wireless device lastly performed an RNA update procedure in.In an example, an RNA may comprise one or more cells operated by one ormore base stations. In an example, a base station may belong to one ormore RNAs. In an example, a cell may belong to one or more RNAs.

In an example, a wireless device may transition a UE RRC state from anRRC connected state to an RRC inactive state in a base station. Awireless device may receive RNA information from the base station. RNAinformation may comprise at least one of an RNA identifier, one or morecell identifiers of one or more cells of an RNA, a base stationidentifier, an IP address of the base station, an AS context identifierof the wireless device, a resume identifier, and/or the like.

In an example, an anchor base station may broadcast a message (e.g. RANpaging message) to base stations of an RNA to reach to a wireless devicein an RRC inactive state, and/or the base stations receiving the messagefrom the anchor base station may broadcast and/or multicast anothermessage (e.g. paging message) to wireless devices in their coveragearea, cell coverage area, and/or beam coverage area associated with theRNA through an air interface.

In an example, when a wireless device in an RRC inactive state movesinto a new RNA, the wireless device may perform an RNA update (RNAU)procedure, which may comprise a random access procedure by the wirelessdevice and/or a UE context retrieve procedure. A UE context retrieve maycomprise: receiving, by a base station from a wireless device, a randomaccess preamble; and fetching, by a base station, a UE context of thewireless device from an old anchor base station. Fetching may comprise:sending a retrieve UE context request message comprising a resumeidentifier to the old anchor base station and receiving a retrieve UEcontext response message comprising the UE context of the wirelessdevice from the old anchor base station.

In an example embodiment, a wireless device in an RRC inactive state mayselect a cell to camp on based on at least a on measurement results forone or more cells, a cell where a wireless device may monitor an RNApaging message and/or a core network paging message from a base station.In an example, a wireless device in an RRC inactive state may select acell to perform a random access procedure to resume an RRC connectionand/or to transmit one or more packets to a base station (e.g. to anetwork). In an example, if a cell selected belongs to a different RNAfrom an RNA for a wireless device in an RRC inactive state, the wirelessdevice may initiate a random access procedure to perform an RNA updateprocedure. In an example, if a wireless device in an RRC inactive statehas one or more packets, in a buffer, to transmit to a network, thewireless device may initiate a random access procedure to transmit oneor more packets to a base station of a cell that the wireless deviceselects. A random access procedure may be performed with two messages(e.g. 2 stage random access) and/or four messages (e.g. 4 stage randomaccess) between the wireless device and the base station.

In an example embodiment, a base station receiving one or more uplinkpackets from a wireless device in an RRC inactive state may fetch a UEcontext of a wireless device by transmitting a retrieve UE contextrequest message for the wireless device to an anchor base station of thewireless device based on at least one of an AS context identifier, anRNA identifier, a base station identifier, a resume identifier, and/or acell identifier received from the wireless device. In response tofetching a UE context, a base station may transmit a path switch requestfor a wireless device to a core network entity (e.g. AMF, MME, and/orthe like). A core network entity may update a downlink tunnel endpointidentifier for one or more bearers established for the wireless devicebetween a user plane core network entity (e.g. UPF, S-GW, and/or thelike) and a RAN node (e.g. the base station), e.g. changing a downlinktunnel endpoint identifier from an address of the anchor base station toan address of the base station.

A gNB may communicate with a wireless device via a wireless networkemploying one or more new radio technologies. The one or more radiotechnologies may comprise at least one of: multiple technologies relatedto physical layer; multiple technologies related to medium accesscontrol layer; and/or multiple technologies related to radio resourcecontrol layer. Example embodiments of enhancing the one or more radiotechnologies may improve performance of a wireless network. Exampleembodiments may increase the system throughput, or data rate oftransmission. Example embodiments may reduce battery consumption of awireless device. Example embodiments may improve latency of datatransmission between a gNB and a wireless device. Example embodimentsmay improve network coverage of a wireless network. Example embodimentsmay improve transmission efficiency of a wireless network.

In an existing handover procedure, a source base station (e.g. gNB, eNB)may transmit a handover command to a wireless device for a handovertowards a target base station (e.g. gNB, eNB) and/or a target cell ofthe target base station. The wireless device may execute the handover bytransmitting a random access preamble to the target base station via thetarget cell, and the source base station may suspend transmittingdownlink packets to the wireless device in response to transmitting thehandover command to the wireless device. In a conditional handoverprocedure, a source base station may transmit a handover command, to awireless device, indicating a handover execution condition for ahandover. In a conditional handover, the wireless device may execute thehandover (e.g. transmit a random access preamble to a target basestation) when one or more criteria of the handover execution conditionare met by a target cell, and the source base station may keep sendingdownlink packets for the wireless device because the source base stationdoes not know when the wireless device execute the handover (e.g. doesnot know when the one or more criteria of the handover executioncondition are met). Implementation of existing signaling may result inincreased radio resource utilization, increased communication overhead,and/or increased packet transmission latency due to inefficientinteraction among base stations and a wireless device for a conditionalhandover procedure. Increased radio resource utilization and/orincreased communication delay may degrade network system reliability.

There is a need for further enhancement in communication among networkelements (e.g. base station, wireless device), for example, when aconditional handover is executed for a wireless device. Exampleembodiments enable a source base station (e.g. gNB, eNB) to know when awireless device executed a handover (e.g. when a wireless devicetransmits a random access preamble to a target base station, and/or whenone or more criteria of a handover execution condition are met by atarget cell at a wireless device). In an example embodiment, in responseto a handover execution condition met by a target cell, a wirelessdevice may transmit an indication signal to a source base station, whichsent a handover command with the handover execution condition. Thesource base station may suspend transmitting downlink packets via aradio channel for the wireless device in response to receiving theindication signal. Example embodiments enhance information exchangeamong base stations and a wireless device to improve networkcommunication reliability when a wireless device employs a conditionalhandover procedure. Example embodiments may enhance signaling proceduresfor a handover procedure.

In an example embodiment, a source base station may provide one or moreconditions for a wireless device to trigger a handover execution to atarget cell served by a target base station, and the wireless device mayinitiate a random access procedure to a target cell if the one or moreconditions are satisfied. In case that the wireless device has a singletransmitter and receiver, after initiating the random access procedure,the wireless device may not be able to receive a packet from the sourcebase station. Because the source base station may not know when thewireless device performs the random access, the source base station maywaste a radio resource as trying to transmit packets to the wirelessdevice, and/or a downlink packet forwarding from the source base stationto the target base station may be delayed at least until the target basestation inform the source base station of a completion of the randomaccess procedure. An example embodiment may reduce the radio resourcewasting and/or the data forwarding delay by enabling a wireless deviceto report a handover execution towards a target cell to a source basestation.

In an example, as shown in FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16, a wirelessdevice may transmit, to a first base station (e.g. gNB, eNB, a handoversource base station, a source base station), a first message comprisinga measurement report for one or more cells. The measurement report maycomprise at least one of a list of cells, an RSRP (Reference SignalReceived Power) of a cell listed, and/or an RSRQ (Reference SignalReceived Quality) of a cell listed. The cell listed may comprise ahandover target cell of a handover target base station (e.g. one or moresecond base stations). The first base station may determine whether ornot to initiate a handover preparation (e.g. handover procedure,transmitting a handover request to a handover target base station) forthe wireless device at least based on one or more elements of themeasurement report. In an example, when an RSRP of a cell in themeasurement report is larger than and/or equal to a power thresholdvalue, or than an RSRP of a serving cell (e.g. primary cell) by a poweroffset value, the first base station may determine to initiate ahandover preparation towards the cell. In response to determininginitiating the handover preparation, the first base station may requesta handover for the wireless device to one or more second base stationsby transmitting a second message to the one or more second basestations. The second message may be a handover request message. Thesecond message may comprise at least one of a wireless device identifierof the wireless device, a wireless device context (e.g. information ofat least one of one or more bearers, one or more PDU sessions, one ormore QoS flows, one or more network slices, subscriber information,security information, and/or etc.) of the wireless device, one or morecell identifiers of one or more cells served by the second base station(e.g. a handover target base station, a target base station, target gNB,target eNB) receiving the second message, one or more elements of themeasurement report received from the wireless device and/or the like.

In response to the second message, the one or more second base stationsmay determine whether or not to accept the handover request for thewireless device at least based on one or more elements of the secondmessage and/or radio resource state of the one or more second basestations. One or more of the one or more second base stations mayprovide an acknowledge of the handover request by transmitting a thirdmessage to the first base station at least based on determining toaccept the handover request. The third message may be a handover requestacknowledge message. The third message may comprise information (e.g.identifier, configuration parameters) of at least one of one or morebearers admitted, one or more network slices admitted, one or more cellsserved by the second base station, radio resource configurationinformation (e.g. RACH configuration, channel configuration information,and/or etc.) for the wireless device, and/or a mobility controlinformation for the wireless device.

In an example, the second message and/or the third message may beexchanged directly via a direct interface (e.g. Xn interface) betweenthe first base station and the one or more second base stations. In anexample, one or more elements of the second message and/or one or moreelements of the third message may be exchanged indirectly via one ormore core network entities (e.g. AMF, MME),In response to receiving theone or more third messages from the one or more of the one or moresecond base stations, the first base station may transmit, to thewireless device, a fourth message to command a wireless device toexecute a handover towards one of one or more cells of the one or moreof the one or more second base stations with one or more conditions atleast based on one or more elements of the one or more third messages.The fourth message may be an RRC connection reconfiguration message. Thefourth message may comprise one or more elements of the one or morethird messages, information (e.g. identifier, index, frequency, celltype, and/or the like) of one or more cells served by the one or more ofthe one or more second base stations, radio resource configurationinformation (e.g. RACH configuration, channel configuration information,and/or etc.) for the wireless device, a mobility control information forthe wireless device, and/or the one or more conditions. The one or moreconditions may comprise at least one of a time duration where the one ormore conditions are valid, a delta value for an RSRP (e.g. power gapbetween an RSRP of a source cell and an RSRP of a target cell), a deltavalue for an RSRQ (e.g. quality gap between an RSRQ of a source cell andan RSRQ of a target cell), an RSRP threshold, an RSRQ threshold, and/ora time offset (e.g. execute a handover when received power is largerthan or equal to the RSRP threshold (one of the one or more conditions)for a time duration of the time offset). In an example, the one or moreconditions may be configured for the one or more cells of the one ormore of the one or more second base stations, and the wireless devicemay initiate a random access procedure to a cell satisfying the one ormore conditions among the one or more cells.

In an example, when an RSRP of a target cell becomes larger than and/orequal to a RSRP of a source cell by a offset power value (e.g. the deltavalue for an RSRP), the wireless device may consider one or morecriteria of the one or more conditions are satisfied. In an example,when an RSRQ of a target cell becomes larger than and/or equal to a RSRQof a source cell by a offset power (quality) value (e.g. the delta valuefor an RSRQ), the wireless device may consider one or more criteria ofthe one or more conditions are satisfied. In an example, when an RSRP ofa target cell becomes larger than and/or equal to the RSRP threshold,the wireless device may consider one or more criteria of the one or moreconditions are satisfied. In an example, when an RSRQ of a target cellbecomes larger than and/or equal to the RSRQ threshold, the wirelessdevice may consider one or more criteria of the one or more conditionsare satisfied. In an example, one or more of the one or more conditionsare met for a time duration of the time offset, the wireless device mayconsider one or more criteria of the one or more conditions aresatisfied.

In an example, the wireless device may determine whether or not the oneor more conditions (e.g. one or more criteria of the one or moreconditions) are satisfied for one or more cells. If the one or moreconditions are satisfied for a first cell, the wireless device maytransmit a fifth message (e.g. control signal) to the first base stationto inform that the wireless device may execute a handover towards thefirst cell before (e.g. simultaneously and/or around a timing of)initiating a random access procedure to the first cell. The initiating arandom access procedure may comprise transmitting, by the wirelessdevice, a random access preamble to a target base station (e.g. at leastone of the one or more second base stations) via a target cell. In anexample, the fifth message may be an RRC connection reconfigurationcomplete message. The fifth message may comprise a cell identifier (e.g.target cell index indicating a target cell) of the first cell (e.g. atarget cell). In response to receiving the fifth message (e.g. controlsignal), the first base station may suspend (e.g. stop, keep buffering)a downlink packet transmission to the wireless device, and/or mayforward one or more downlink and/or uplink packets for the wirelessdevice to the target base station that serves the first cell. In anexample, the forwarding the one or more downlink and/or uplink packetsmay occur before and/or after receiving a notification of a randomaccess complete (e.g. handover complete, UE context release message)from the target base station. The forwarding may be based on a tunnelinformation (e.g. IP address of the target base station) received viathe handover request acknowledge message from the target base station.The downlink and/or uplink packets may be forwarded directly via adirect interface (e.g. Xn interface) between the first base station andthe target base station and/or indirectly via a user plane core networkentity (e.g. AMF, MME). The target base station may be one of the one ormore of the one or more second base stations. In response to receivingthe fifth message, the first base station may transmit a packet sequencenumber information for downlink and/or uplink packets to the target basestation directly via a direct interface between the first base stationand the target base station and/or indirectly via a control plane corenetwork entity. The packet sequence number information may comprise apacket sequence number for one or more bearers for the wireless device.

In an example, the fifth message (e.g. control signal, handoverexecution notification) may be at least one of a MAC control element(MAC CE) of an uplink packet, an RRC message, a physical layer signal, arandom access preamble (wherein a preamble identifier corresponding therandom access preamble is indicated in the first message), and/or acontrol channel field. In an example, the fifth message may comprise acell index (e.g. cell identifier, PCI, CGI) indicating a target cell viawhich the wireless device transmit a random access preamble for ahandover execution. The cell index may indicate the target cell amongone or more candidate target cells configured by a source base station(e.g. the first base station, a current serving base station). In anexample, the one or more candidate target cells may be served bydifferent base stations of the one or more second base stations.

In response to determining that the first cell satisfies the one or moreconditions, the wireless device may transmit a random access preamblemessage to the target base station through the first cell aftertransmitting the fifth message to the first base station. In an example,the random access preamble message may initiate a random accessprocedure that may be performed with two messages (e.g. 2-stage randomaccess) and/or four messages (e.g. 4-stage random access).

In a 2-stage random access procedure, a first random access message maybe transmitted by a wireless device to a base station, and the firstrandom access message may comprise at least one of a random accesspreamble, a radio resource control message, and/or one or more uplinkpackets. A second random access message of the 2-stage random accessprocedure may be transmitted to the wireless device by the base stationreceiving the first random access message, and the second random accessmessage may comprise an acknowledgement of a reception of the firstrandom access message. In an example, the second random access messageof the 2-stage random access procedure may further comprise a resourcegrant for further uplink message transmission.

In a 4-stage random access procedure, a first random access message maybe transmitted by a wireless device to a base station, and the firstrandom access message may comprise a random access preamble. A secondrandom access message of the 4-stage random access procedure may betransmitted to the wireless device by the base station receiving thefirst message, and the second random access message may comprise aresource grant for further uplink message transmission. A third randomaccess message of the 4-stage random access procedure may be transmittedby the wireless device to the base station at least based on theresource grant in the second random access message, and may comprise aradio resource control message and/or one or more uplink packets. Afourth random access message transmitted by the base station to thewireless device may comprise an acknowledgement of a reception of thethird random access message. In an example, the fourth random accessmessage of the 4-stage random access procedure may further comprise afurther resource grant for further uplink message transmission.

In an example, after completing the random access procedure initiated bythe wireless device, the target base station may transmit a sixthmessage to a core network entity at least to update downlink packetdestination information (e.g. a tunnel endpoint identifier and/or an ipaddress). The sixth message may be a path switch request message. Thesixth message may comprise a downlink packet destination information forone or more bearers for the wireless device. In an example, the corenetwork entity may transmit a seventh message to the target base stationin response to the sixth message. The seventh message may be a pathswitch request acknowledge message. The seventh message may comprise anuplink packet destination information (e.g. a tunnel endpoint identifierand/or an ip address) for one or more bearers for the wireless deviceand/or a list of bearers to be released.

After completing the random access procedure initiated by the wirelessdevice, the target base station may notify the random access completionto the first base station by transmitting an eighth message to the firstbase station. The eighth message may be a UE context release message.The eighth message may be transmitted via a direct interface between thetarget base station and the first base station, and/or one or moreelements of the eighth message may be transmitted to the first basestation indirectly via one or more core network entities. The eighthmessage may comprise a wireless device identifier of the wirelessdevice. In response to receiving the eighth message and/or the one ormore elements of the eighth message, the first base station may releasea wireless device context for the wireless device.

In FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16, one or more signaling messages may beexchanged among communication nodes between depicted messages. A packetsequence number information for a data forwarding from a source basestation to a target base station may or may not be transmitted. The dataforwarding may occur before, after, or simultaneously with the randomaccess procedure. The packet sequence number information transmissionand/or the data forwarding may be performed directly via an Xn interfaceand/or indirectly via a core network entity (e.g. control plane corenetwork entity, AMF/MME, or user plane core network entity, UPF/SGW).

In an example, a wireless device may receive, from a first base station,a first message comprising at least one of a conditional command ofhandover towards a cell of a second base station and/or a handoverexecution threshold. The conditional command may be configured tocommand a handover when the handover execution threshold is satisfied.The wireless device may determine whether or not the handover executionthreshold is satisfied for the cell of the second base station. Thewireless device may transmit to the first base station a second signalcomprising a handover notification indicating that the wireless deviceexecutes a handover towards the cell of the second base station at leastbased on the determination. The first base station stops transmittingdownlink data packets to the wireless device via a direct radiointerface at least based on the handover notification. The wirelessdevice may transmit to the second base station a third signal via thecell of the second base station to initiate a handover. The firstmessage may further comprise a time threshold during which theconditional command of handover is valid, and the determination by thewireless device may be made before the time threshold is expired. Thesecond signal may be transferred via at least one of a MAC controlelement of an uplink packet, an RRC message, a physical layer signal, arandom access preamble (wherein a preamble identifier corresponding therandom access preamble is indicated in the first message), and/or acontrol channel field. The handover execution threshold may comprise atleast one of a signal quality threshold (e.g. an RSRQ) or a signalstrength threshold (e.g. an RSRP).

According to various embodiments, a device such as, for example, awireless device, off-network wireless device, a base station, and/or thelike, may comprise one or more processors and memory. The memory maystore instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the device to perform a series of actions. Embodiments of exampleactions are illustrated in the accompanying figures and specification.Features from various embodiments may be combined to create yet furtherembodiments.

FIG. 17 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. At 1710, a wireless device may receive from afirst base station, a radio resource control message indicating acommand of a conditional handover towards a target cell of a second basestation. The radio resource control message may comprise: a cellidentifier of the target cell; and at least one handover executioncondition. At 1720, the wireless device may determine that at least onecriteria of the at least one handover execution condition is met by thetarget cell of the second base station. At 1730, the wireless device maytransmit to the first base station and in response to the determiningthat the at least one criteria is met, a first signal indicating ahandover execution notification associated with the command of theconditional handover. At 1740, the wireless device may transmit to thesecond base station, a random access preamble via the target cell of thesecond base station.

According to an embodiment, the first base station may suspendtransmitting downlink packets to the wireless device via a radiointerface in response to the handover execution notification. Accordingto an embodiment, the at least one handover execution condition maycomprise at least one of: a reference signal received power; a referencesignal received quality; a first time value indicating a time offset fora decision of a handover execution; or a second time value indicating atime duration when the command of the conditional handover is valid.According to an embodiment, the first signal may comprise at least oneof: a medium access control control element; a radio resource controlmessage; a physical layer control indication; or a second random accesspreamble associated with the command of the conditional handover.According to an embodiment, the wireless device may further transmit tothe first base station, a measurement report message comprising ameasurement result of the target cell. The measurement result maycomprise at least one of: a reference signal received power; or areference signal received quality. According to an embodiment, the firstbase station may transmit, to the second base station, a first messageindicating a handover request for the wireless device based on themeasurement result. The first base station may receive, from the secondbase station and in response to the first message, a second messageindicating a handover request acknowledge for the handover request.

According to an embodiment, the second base station may transmits, to acore network entity and in response to completing a random accessprocedure associated with the random access preamble, a third messageindicating a path switch request for the wireless device, the thirdmessage comprising a first tunnel endpoint identifier for packettransmission of the wireless device. The second base station mayreceive, from the core network entity, a fourth message indicating apath switch request acknowledge for the path switch request. The fourthmessage may comprise a second tunnel endpoint identifier for packettransmission of the wireless device. The second base station maytransmit, to the first base station, a fourth message indicating awireless device context release for the wireless device.

FIG. 18 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. At 1810, a first base station may transmit to awireless device, a radio resource control message indicating a commandof a conditional handover towards a target cell of a second basestation. The radio resource control message may comprise: a cellidentifier of the target cell; and at least one handover executioncondition. At 1820, the first base station may receive from the wirelessdevice, a first signal indicating a handover execution notificationassociated with the command of the conditional handover. The handoverexecution notification may be based on the target cell meeting at leastone criteria of the at least one handover execution condition. At 1830,the base station may suspend transmitting downlink packets to thewireless device via a radio interface in response to receiving thehandover execution notification.

According to an embodiment, the wireless device may transmit, to thesecond base station, a random access preamble via the target cell inresponse to the target cell meeting the at least one criteria of the atleast one handover execution condition. According to an embodiment, theat least one handover execution condition may comprise at least one of:a reference signal received power; a reference signal received quality;a first time value indicating a time offset for a decision of a handoverexecution; or a second time value indicating a time duration when thecommand of the conditional handover is valid. According to anembodiment, the first signal may comprise at least one of: a mediumaccess control control element; a radio resource control message; aphysical layer control indication; or a second random access preambleassociated with the command of the conditional handover. According to anembodiment, the first base station mat further receive from the wirelessdevice, a measurement report message comprising a measurement result ofthe target cell. The measurement result may comprise at least one of: areference signal received power; or a reference signal received quality.According to an embodiment, the first base station may transmit to thesecond base station, a first message indicating a handover request forthe wireless device based on the measurement result. The first basestation may receive from the second base station and in response to thefirst message, a second message indicating a handover requestacknowledge for the handover request.

Embodiments may be configured to operate as needed. The disclosedmechanism may be performed when certain criteria are met, for example,in a wireless device, a base station, a radio environment, a network, acombination of the above, and/or the like. Example criteria may bebased, at least in part, on for example, wireless device or network nodeconfigurations, traffic load, initial system set up, packet sizes,traffic characteristics, a combination of the above, and/or the like.When the one or more criteria are met, various example embodiments maybe applied. Therefore, it may be possible to implement exampleembodiments that selectively implement disclosed protocols.

A base station may communicate with a mix of wireless devices. Wirelessdevices and/or base stations may support multiple technologies, and/ormultiple releases of the same technology. Wireless devices may have somespecific capability(ies) depending on wireless device category and/orcapability(ies). A base station may comprise multiple sectors. When thisdisclosure refers to a base station communicating with a plurality ofwireless devices, this disclosure may refer to a subset of the totalwireless devices in a coverage area. This disclosure may refer to, forexample, a plurality of wireless devices of a given LTE or 5G releasewith a given capability and in a given sector of the base station. Theplurality of wireless devices in this disclosure may refer to a selectedplurality of wireless devices, and/or a subset of total wireless devicesin a coverage area which perform according to disclosed methods, and/orthe like. There may be a plurality of base stations or a plurality ofwireless devices in a coverage area that may not comply with thedisclosed methods, for example, because those wireless devices or basestations perform based on older releases of LTE or 5G technology.

In this disclosure, “a” and “an” and similar phrases are to beinterpreted as “at least one” and “one or more.” Similarly, any termthat ends with the suffix “(s)” is to be interpreted as “at least one”and “one or more.” In this disclosure, the term “may” is to beinterpreted as “may, for example.” In other words, the term “may” isindicative that the phrase following the term “may” is an example of oneof a multitude of suitable possibilities that may, or may not, beemployed to one or more of the various embodiments.

If A and B are sets and every element of A is also an element of B, A iscalled a subset of B. In this specification, only non-empty sets andsubsets are considered. For example, possible subsets of B={cell1,cell2} are: {cell1}, {cell2}, and {cell1, cell2}. The phrase “based on”(or equally “based at least on”) is indicative that the phrase followingthe term “based on” is an example of one of a multitude of suitablepossibilities that may, or may not, be employed to one or more of thevarious embodiments. The phrase “in response to” (or equally “inresponse at least to”) is indicative that the phrase following thephrase “in response to” is an example of one of a multitude of suitablepossibilities that may, or may not, be employed to one or more of thevarious embodiments. The phrase “depending on” (or equally “depending atleast to”) is indicative that the phrase following the phrase “dependingon” is an example of one of a multitude of suitable possibilities thatmay, or may not, be employed to one or more of the various embodiments.The phrase “employing/using” (or equally “employing/using at least”) isindicative that the phrase following the phrase “employing/using” is anexample of one of a multitude of suitable possibilities that may, or maynot, be employed to one or more of the various embodiments.

The term configured may relate to the capacity of a device whether thedevice is in an operational or non-operational state. Configured mayalso refer to specific settings in a device that effect the operationalcharacteristics of the device whether the device is in an operational ornon-operational state. In other words, the hardware, software, firmware,registers, memory values, and/or the like may be “configured” within adevice, whether the device is in an operational or nonoperational state,to provide the device with specific characteristics. Terms such as “acontrol message to cause in a device” may mean that a control messagehas parameters that may be used to configure specific characteristics ormay be used to implement certain actions in the device, whether thedevice is in an operational or non-operational state

In this disclosure, various embodiments are disclosed. Limitations,features, and/or elements from the disclosed example embodiments may becombined to create further embodiments within the scope of thedisclosure.

In this disclosure, parameters (or equally called, fields, orInformation elements: IEs) may comprise one or more information objects,and an information object may comprise one or more other objects. Forexample, if parameter (IE) N comprises parameter (IE) M, and parameter(IE) M comprises parameter (IE) K, and parameter (IE) K comprisesparameter (information element) J. Then, for example, N comprises K, andN comprises J. In an example embodiment, when one or more (or at leastone) message(s) comprise a plurality of parameters, it implies that aparameter in the plurality of parameters is in at least one of the oneor more messages, but does not have to be in each of the one or moremessages. In an example embodiment, when one or more (or at least one)message(s) indicate a value, event and/or condition, it implies that thevalue, event and/or condition is indicated by at least one of the one ormore messages, but does not have to be indicated by each of the one ormore messages.

Furthermore, many features presented above are described as beingoptional through the use of “may” or the use of parentheses. For thesake of brevity and legibility, the present disclosure does notexplicitly recite each and every permutation that may be obtained bychoosing from the set of optional features. However, the presentdisclosure is to be interpreted as explicitly disclosing all suchpermutations. For example, a system described as having three optionalfeatures may be embodied in seven different ways, namely with just oneof the three possible features, with any two of the three possiblefeatures or with all three of the three possible features.

Many of the elements described in the disclosed embodiments may beimplemented as modules. A module is defined here as an element thatperforms a defined function and has a defined interface to otherelements. The modules described in this disclosure may be implemented inhardware, software in combination with hardware, firmware, wetware (i.e.hardware with a biological element) or a combination thereof, all ofwhich may be behaviorally equivalent. For example, modules may beimplemented as a software routine written in a computer languageconfigured to be executed by a hardware machine (such as C, C++,Fortran, Java, Basic, Matlab or the like) or a modeling/simulationprogram such as Simulink, Stateflow, GNU Octave, or LabVIEWMathScript.Additionally, it may be possible to implement modules using physicalhardware that incorporates discrete or programmable analog, digitaland/or quantum hardware. Examples of programmable hardware comprise:computers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, application-specificintegrated circuits (ASICs); field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs); andcomplex programmable logic devices (CPLDs). Computers, microcontrollersand microprocessors are programmed using languages such as assembly, C,C++ or the like. FPGAs, ASICs and CPLDs are often programmed usinghardware description languages (HDL) such as VHSIC hardware descriptionlanguage (VHDL) or Verilog that configure connections between internalhardware modules with lesser functionality on a programmable device. Theabove mentioned technologies are often used in combination to achievethe result of a functional module.

The disclosure of this patent document incorporates material which issubject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection tothe facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, for the limited purposes required by law, butotherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example, and notlimitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevantart(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made thereinwithout departing from the scope. In fact, after reading the abovedescription, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s)how to implement alternative embodiments. Thus, the present embodimentsshould not be limited by any of the above described exemplaryembodiments.

In addition, it should be understood that any figures which highlightthe functionality and advantages, are presented for example purposesonly. The disclosed architecture is sufficiently flexible andconfigurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than thatshown. For example, the actions listed in any flowchart may bere-ordered or only optionally used in some embodiments.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure is to enable theU.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, andespecially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art whoare not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determinequickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of thetechnical disclosure of the application. The Abstract of the Disclosureis not intended to be limiting as to the scope in any way.

Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that include theexpress language “means for” or “step for” be interpreted under 35U.S.C. 112. Claims that do not expressly include the phrase “means for”or “step for” are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: transmitting, by a wirelessdevice to a first base station, a measurement result of a cell of asecond base station; receiving, by the wireless device from the firstbase station and based on the measurement result, a command of aconditional handover towards the cell of the second base station,wherein the command comprises: a cell identifier of the cell; and atleast one handover execution condition, wherein the at least onehandover execution condition comprises at least one of: a referencesignal received power; a reference signal received quality; a first timevalue indicating a time offset for a decision of a handover execution;or a second time value indicating a time duration when the command ofthe conditional handover is valid; determining, by the wireless device,that at least one criteria of the at least one handover executioncondition is met by the cell; and transmitting, by the wireless deviceto the first base station and in response to the determining, a handoverexecution notification indicating that the wireless device is initiatinga random access procedure by transmitting a random access preamble viathe cell of the second base station.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first base station suspends transmitting downlink packets to thewireless device via a radio interface in response to the handoverexecution notification.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at leastone handover execution condition comprises the reference signal receivedpower.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by thewireless device to the first base station and in response to thedetermining, at least one of: a medium access control control element; aradio resource control message; a physical layer control indication; ora second random access preamble associated with the command of theconditional handover.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurementresult comprises at least one of: a reference signal received power; ora reference signal received quality.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first base station: transmits, to the second base station, a firstmessage indicating a handover request for the wireless device based onthe measurement result; and receives, from the second base station andin response to the first message, a second message indicating a handoverrequest acknowledge for the handover request.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the second base station: transmits, to a core network entity andin response to completing the random access procedure, a third messageindicating a path switch request for the wireless device, the thirdmessage comprising a first tunnel endpoint identifier for packettransmission of the wireless device; receives, from the core networkentity, a fourth message indicating a path switch request acknowledgefor the path switch request, the fourth message comprising a secondtunnel endpoint identifier for packet transmission of the wirelessdevice; and transmits, to the first base station, a fifth messageindicating a wireless device context release for the wireless device. 8.The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one handover executioncondition comprises the reference signal received power.
 9. The methodof claim 8, further comprising transmitting, by the wireless device tothe first base station and in response to the determining, at least oneof: a medium access control control element; a radio resource controlmessage; a physical layer control indication; or a second random accesspreamble associated with the command of the conditional handover. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein the measurement result comprises at leastone of: a reference signal received power; or a reference signalreceived quality.
 11. A wireless device comprising: one or moreprocessors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by theone or more processors, cause the wireless device to: transmit, to afirst base station, a measurement result of a cell of a second basestation; receive, from the first base station and based on themeasurement result, a command of a conditional handover towards the cellof the second base station, wherein the command comprises: a cellidentifier of the cell; and at least one handover execution condition,wherein the at least one handover execution condition comprises at leastone of: a reference signal received power; a reference signal receivedquality; a first time value indicating a time offset for a decision of ahandover execution; or a second time value indicating a time durationwhen the command of the conditional handover is valid; determine that atleast one criteria of the at least one handover execution condition ismet by the cell; and transmit, to the first base station and in responseto the determination, a handover execution notification indicating thatthe wireless device is initiating a random access procedure bytransmitting a random access preamble via the cell of the second basestation.
 12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the first basestation suspends transmitting downlink packets to the wireless devicevia a radio interface in response to the handover executionnotification.
 13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the at leastone handover execution condition comprises the reference signal receivedpower.
 14. The wireless device of claim 11, further comprisingtransmitting, by the wireless device to the first base station and inresponse to the determination, at least one of: a medium access controlcontrol element; a radio resource control message; a physical layercontrol indication; or a second random access preamble associated withthe command of the conditional handover.
 15. The wireless device ofclaim 11, wherein the measurement result comprises at least one of: areference signal received power; or a reference signal received quality.16. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the first base station:transmits, to the second base station, a first message indicating ahandover request for the wireless device based on the measurementresult; and receives, from the second base station and in response tothe first message, a second message indicating a handover requestacknowledge for the handover request.
 17. The wireless device of claim11, wherein the second base station: transmits, to a core network entityand in response to completing the random access procedure, a thirdmessage indicating a path switch request for the wireless device, thethird message comprising a first tunnel endpoint identifier for packettransmission of the wireless device; receives, from the core networkentity, a fourth message indicating a path switch request acknowledgefor the path switch request, the fourth message comprising a secondtunnel endpoint identifier for packet transmission of the wirelessdevice; and transmits, to the first base station, a fifth messageindicating a wireless device context release for the wireless device.18. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the at least one handoverexecution condition comprises the reference signal received power. 19.The wireless device of claim 18, further comprising transmitting, by thewireless device to the first base station and in response to thedetermination, at least one of: a medium access control control element;a radio resource control message; a physical layer control indication;or a second random access preamble associated with the command of theconditional handover.
 20. A system comprising: a wireless devicecomprising: one or more first processors; and first memory storing firstinstructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors,cause the wireless device to: transmit a measurement result of a cell ofa second base station; receive a command of a conditional handovertowards the cell of the second base station, wherein the commandcomprises: a cell identifier of the cell; and at least one handoverexecution condition, wherein the at least one handover executioncondition comprises at least one of:  a reference signal received power; a reference signal received quality;  a first time value indicating atime offset for a decision of a handover execution; or  a second timevalue indicating a time duration when the command of the conditionalhandover is valid; determine that at least one criteria of the at leastone handover execution condition is met by the cell; and transmit, inresponse to the determination, a handover execution notificationindicating that the wireless device is initiating a random accessprocedure by transmitting a random access preamble via the cell of thesecond base station; and a first base station comprising: one or moresecond processors; and second memory storing second instructions that,when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the first basestation to: receive the measurement result of a cell of a second basestation; based on the measurement result, transmit the command of aconditional handover; and receive the handover execution notification.